SCOTLAND

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 
	(1)  how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness absence of less than five days in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

David Cairns: All staff in the Scotland Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice. The Office does not maintain a central record of sick absences; such records are held by the parent Departments.

Domestic Visits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits he has made to each Scottish parliamentary constituency over the last two years.

Des Browne: As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years my predecessor and I have visited the following Scottish parliamentary constituencies in a ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Constituency  Visits 
			 Aberdeen, South 1 
			 Argyll and Bute 1 
			 Central Ayrshire 1 
			 Dundee, East 1 
			 Dunfermline and West Fife 2 
			 East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 1 
			 East Lothian 1 
			 Edinburgh, East 8 
			 Edinburgh, North and Leith 7 
			 Edinburgh, South-West 4 
			 Edinburgh, West 4 
			 Falkirk 2 
			 Glasgow, Central 19 
			 Glasgow, East 2 
			 Glasgow, North 6 
			 Glasgow, South-West 3 
			 Gordon 2 
			 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 2 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 2 
			 Livingston 1 
			 Midlothian 1 
			 Moray 1 
			 Ochil and South Perthshire 2 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire, North 2 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire, South 2 
			 Stirling 1 
		
	
	Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.

Domestic Visits

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many visits have been made by the Minister of State for Scotland to each parliamentary constituency over the last two years.

David Cairns: As of 30 June 2008, in the previous two years I have visited the following parliamentary constituencies in a Scotland Office ministerial capacity as detailed in the following table:
	
		
			  Constituency  Visits 
			 Aberdeen, North 2 
			 Aberdeen, South 1 
			 Argyll and Bute 4 
			 Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock 3 
			 Banff and Buchan 1 
			 Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross 2 
			 Central Ayrshire 1 
			 Dundee, East 2 
			 Dundee, West 3 
			 East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow 1 
			 East Lothian 1 
			 Edinburgh, East 3 
			 Edinburgh, North and Leith 6 
			 Edinburgh, South 2 
			 Edinburgh, South-West 6 
			 Edinburgh, West 2 
			 Falkirk 1 
			 Glasgow, Central 14 
			 Glasgow, North 2 
			 Glasgow, North-East 2 
			 Glasgow, South-West 3 
			 Glenrothes 1 
			 Gordon 1 
			 Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey 1 
			 Kilmarnock and Loudoun 1 
			 Lanark and Hamilton, East 1 
			 Linlithgow and East Falkirk 1 
			 Livingston 2 
			 Midlothian 3 
			 Na h-Eileanan an Iar 1 
			 Ochil and South Perthshire 2 
			 Paisley and Renfrewshire, North 2 
			 Perth and North Perthshire 2 
			 Rutherglen and Hamilton, West 1 
			 West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine 1 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 4 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 
			 Salford 1 
		
	
	Visits to constituencies in a political capacity are not included as records of these are not held by the Scotland Office.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

David Cairns: Two.

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

David Cairns: The Scotland Office was established on 1 July 1999. All staff in the Office are on secondment from the Scottish Executive or the Ministry of Justice; the Office does not maintain a central record of absences due to industrial action; such records are held by the parent Departments.

Olympic Games 2012

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues in the last 12 months on securing benefits to Scotland from the 2012 Olympic Games.

David Cairns: I attend various meetings with ministerial colleagues where matters surrounding the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games are discussed. I also recently discussed this matter in the House during Scottish Questions when I encouraged all businesses, Scottish-based or otherwise, to bid for contracts in relation to the games

OLYMPICS

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Minister for the Olympics which make and model of car she has chosen as her ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Tessa Jowell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are employed by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG); what the staffing costs of LOCOG will be in 2008-09; and how many of LOCOG's staff work on  (a) project management,  (b) legacy planning and  (c ) financial oversight.

Tessa Jowell: The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) is a company limited by guarantee that relies almost entirely on private funding. As such, LOCOG files its annual report and accounts at Companies House and publishes them on its website at:
	www.london2012.com
	LOCOG's last annual report for the 12 months up to 31 March 2007 shows that on average in that year the company employed 102 staff, including directors; and staff costs, including pensions and social security costs, totalled £9.48 million. Since that date, LOCOG has put in place more of its work force as it develops all its plans across the complex London 2012 project.
	The next set of annual report and financial statements will be published shortly. During the London 2012 games themselves, it is envisaged that LOCOG will employ around 2,600 permanent staff, in addition to volunteers and contractors.

Olympic Games 2012

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics on what date invitations will be sent to prospective competing nations for the London 2012  (a) Olympic and  (b) Paralympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: Invitations to take part in the Olympic games are normally sent out by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to all National Olympic Committees (NOCs) around one year before the opening ceremony of the games.
	Invitations to take part in the Paralympic games are normally sent out by the Organising Committee in co-operation with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) around one year before the respective Paralympic games.

Olympic Games 2012

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent estimate she has made of the number of nations that will compete in the London 2012  (a) Olympic and  (b) Paralympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: Based on participation in recent Olympic games and Paralympic games, we expect over 200 National Olympic Committees and about 150 National Paralympic Committees to take part in 2012.

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the funding of Olympic developments from funds released by the establishment of unitary authorities.

Tessa Jowell: I have had no such discussions.

Olympic Games 2012: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how the London 2012 Olympics will assist regeneration and sports projects in Halifax.

Tessa Jowell: The Legacy Action Plan (LAP) which was launched in June outlines how Government will deliver a sustainable legacy for the whole of the UK from the London 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.
	This includes a target to get two million people more active through sport and physical activity by 2012. Sport England will seek to get one million more active through sport; they will do this through new engagement with national governing bodies and through county sports partnerships. Calderdale are already working with other Yorkshire and Humberside authorities and primary care trusts to drive participation. This has led to a 3.5 per cent. increase in participation across the Yorkshire and Humberside region since 2005. Additionally, the Government have announced a new national free swimming programme for those aged 60 plus and under-16s. Local authorities in England will be invited to participate in the scheme and will receive funding towards the costs. The scheme will start in April 2009.

Olympic Games 2012: West Midlands

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what steps the Government has taken to promote the use of sporting venues in the West Midlands for pre-games training for the London 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 16 July 2008
	The Pre-Games Training Camp guide will be published at the Beijing games this summer by LOCOG.
	The West Midlands has 33 Olympic and 14 Paralympic sites in the guide. A seminar for all these facilities was held recently by the West Midlands Nations and Regions Group to offer them advice on marketing their facilities. A regional strategy will be developed by the Nations and Regions Group to promote the region and its facilities to assist the region in securing teams.
	In addition, £25,000 will be made available by LOCOG to help attract National Olympic and Paralympic Committees to use the facilities in the guide.

Olympic Lottery Distributor: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many people are employed by the Olympic Lottery Distributor; and at what cost in 2008-09.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Lottery Distributor currently employs six people. As well as a chief executive, the organisation employs two senior staff members—a Director of Policy and a Head of Finance and Corporate Services. The total staff costs budget for 2008-09, including pension costs and employers' national insurance, is up to £556,878.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the resale value of untaxed spirits intercepted in Northern Ireland was in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Cigarettes: Smuggling

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the resale value of illegal cigarettes intercepted in Northern Ireland was in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown, cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed, thus they have no resale value.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average cost to his Department of employing a press and media officer was in 2007-08.

Paul Goggins: The following table details average salaries paid to information officers in the Northern Ireland Office. These figures include allowances, national insurance and pension contributions.
	
		
			   Average FTE as at August 2007 (including ERSNI, ASLCS and allowances) (£) 
			 Grade A Information Officer 51,738 
			 Grade B1 Information Officer 45,617 
			 Grade B2 Information Officer 38,990

Departmental Manpower

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officials work in his Department.

Paul Goggins: Within the Northern Ireland Office the actual number of staff employed in May 2008, which is the latest date for which figures are available, is 2,089. This figure excludes staff currently on career break or secondment.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Paul Goggins: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Department for Transport on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Paul Goggins: The NIO equal opportunities policy is applied to all staff working in the Northern Ireland Office including staff secondments.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office attaches importance to ensuring effective consultation and involvement of its staff. It is a personal decision whether or not to join a trade union, but the Department encourages staff to join an appropriate trade union and to play an active part in it, ensuring that their views are represented.
	Members of staff in both the Northern Ireland Office and its agencies are currently represented by the following trade unions:
	NIPSA—Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance;
	CSPOA—Civil Service Professional Officers Association;
	FDA—First Division Association;
	PCS—Public and Commercial Services Union.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what training courses were  (a) available to and  (b) taken by civil servants in his Department in the last 12 months.

Paul Goggins: The Business Improvement Team (BIT) in the Northern Ireland Office arranges and delivers learning and development opportunities for NIO staff. The learning and development opportunities available to NIO staff are linked to the Professional Skills for Government requirements and, for the period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008, these were set out in BIT's learning and development prospectus. The courses set out in the following table were selected by BIT as meeting PSG requirements. Each member of staff in the NIO has a Personnel Development Plan which records their individual development needs, and BIT will advise which of the courses in the prospectus are appropriate to meet those needs. The following table lists all the courses available in the prospectus and indicates which were attended and which were not required during the year.
	
		
			  Courses available  Taken/not taken 
			 Leadership Programme Attended 
			 Strategic Thinking Attended 
			 Personal Power and Influencing Skills Attended 
			 Preparing for Top Management Attended 
			 Leading Change Not required 
			 People Management Attended 
			 Stress Management Attended 
			 Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring Not required 
			 Negotiating and Influencing Attended 
			 PSG Financial Management Attended 
			 Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting and In year Control Attended 
			 General Finance Awareness Not required 
			 Business Case Guidance Attended 
			 Capital Asset Guidance Not required 
			 Corporate Governance Guidance Not required 
			 Prince 2 Foundation Certificate Attended 
			 Prince 2 Practitioner Certificate Not required 
			 Managing Small Projects Attended 
			 Prince 2 Overview Attended 
			 Project Management Overview Attended 
			 Benefits Management Masterclass Attended 
			 Programme Management Overview Attended 
			 Managing Successful Programmes Foundation Certificate Not required 
			 Managing Successful Programmes Intermediate and Practitioner Certificate Not required 
			 Introduction to Risk Management Not taken 
			 Management of Risk (MOR) Foundation Not taken 
			 Management of Risk (MOR) Practitioner Not taken 
			 Gateway Reviewer Attended 
			 Microsoft Project basic and advanced Attended 
			 Risk Analysis in the Policy Area Not required 
			 Microsoft Word basic and advanced Attended 
			 Microsoft Excel basic and advanced Attended 
			 Microsoft PowerPoint basic and advanced Attended 
			 Microsoft ECDL Attended 
			 Analysis and Use of Evidence Attended 
			 Effective Speech Writing Attended 
			 Communications and Marketing Attended 
			 Writing Dynamics Attended 
			 Think on your feet Attended 
			 Strategy Attended 
			 Mind Mapping Attended 
			 Chairing Meetings Attended 
			 Basic Finance Process Attended 
			 Gateway Awareness Attended 
			 Working With Ministers Attended 
			 Secretaryship of meetings Attended 
			 Gateway Programme Attended 
			 Leading In A Crisis Not required 
			 Peoplebank Not required 
			 Interchange Not required 
			 Work Shadowing Not required 
			 Developing Style and Presence Not required 
			 Overview of the Financial Cycle Not required 
			 SRO Executive Briefing Not required 
			 Making Policy that Happens Not required 
			 Delivering Policy Workshop Not required 
			 Microsoft Excel Basic Not required 
			 Microsoft Excel Advanced Not required 
			 Microsoft Project Basic Not required 
			 Microsoft Project Advanced Not required 
			 Preparing Business Cases Not required 
			 Proactive Media Management: How To Get Your Story in the News Not required 
			 Appearing Before Select Committees Not required 
			 Communications in the Public Sector Not required 
			 Lateral Thinking Not required 
			 One-Day Strategy Workshops Not required 
			 Building a Balanced Scorecard Not required 
			 Managing People Problems Not required 
			 Managing Conflict Not required 
			 Managing Time Not required 
			 Stress Management Not required 
			 Managing Change Not required 
			 PSG Financial Management Not required 
			 Business Cases and Investment Appraisal Not required 
			 Government Finance/Resource Accounting/Resource Budgeting/In Year Control Not required 
			 PSG Resource Budgeting and Forecasting Not required 
			 Corporate Governance Guidance Not required 
			 Project Management Introduction Certificate Not required 
			 Project Management Overview Not required 
			 Gateway Reviewer (OCG Accredited) Not required 
			 Microsoft Project Advanced Not required 
			 How to do a Bill Not required 
			 Policy Delivery Workshop Not required 
			 Risk Analysis in the Policy Area Not required 
			 Microsoft ECDL Basic Not required 
			 Appearing Before a Select Committee Not required 
			 Writing Dynamics Effective Briefing Not required 
			 Think On Your Feet Not required 
			 PSG Financial Management Not required 
			 Project and Programme Support Not required 
			 PPSO Foundation Certificate Not required 
			 Project Management Introduction Certificate Not required 
			 Project Management Overview Not required 
			 Introduction to Evidence-Based Policy Making Not required 
			 Working with Ministers Not required 
			 Secretaryship of Meetings Not required 
			 Project and Programme Support Not required 
			 Project Management Certificate Not required 
			 Project Management Overview Not required 
			 Pathway Programme Attended

District Policing Partnerships: Standards

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which district policing partnerships did not meet the key performance indicator targets set by the Policing Board in 2006-07; and by how much they missed each target.

Paul Goggins: For the 2006-07 reporting period, District Policing Partnerships (DPPs) carried out a self-assessment of their effectiveness against the targets set out in the DPP Monitoring Framework. The targets for DPPs reflect their statutory functions, as set out in the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. I will write to the hon. Gentleman with details of those DPPs that did not achieve set targets. The Northern Ireland Policing Board recognises the importance of DPP effectiveness and was pleased that the 2006-07 assessment found the majority of targets set were met by most DPPs. The Board reviewed the performance management system for DPPs, and introduced a new effectiveness framework in April 2008.

Elections: Fraud

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent assessment he has made of the changes in the levels of electoral fraud in Northern Ireland as a result of the introduction of individual electoral registration.

Paul Goggins: The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 introduced a number of measures—including individual registration—to address the perception of electoral fraud, which was seen to be undermining the democratic process in Northern Ireland. Both the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland believe that since these measures were introduced the potential for fraud has been reduced and confidence has been largely restored. Successive Electoral Commission reports have affirmed this.
	The Commission's report on the March 2007 Assembly elections stated that while some perceptions of fraud persist among a proportion of the public in Northern Ireland, these
	"are not borne out by experience of recent elections."

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 567-68W, on the Fair Trade initiative, how much his Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this expenditure was on Fair Trade products.

Paul Goggins: The Northern Ireland Office does not separately record the amount of expenditure on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements, nor do we record the amount spent on Fairtrade goods.

Homicide

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murders committed in Northern Ireland in each year since 1978 remain unsolved.

Paul Goggins: The following table details the information requested.
	
		
			   Number 
			 1978 96 
			 1979 134 
			 1980 96 
			 1981 116 
			 1982 111 
			 1983 96 
			 1984 73 
			 1985 59 
			 1986 88 
			 1987 117 
			 1988 114 
			 1989 71 
			 1990 82 
			 1991 118 
			 1992 111 
			 1993 104 
			 1994 80 
			 1995 22 
			 1996 39 
			 1997 42 
			 1998 50 
			 1999 32 
			 2000 42 
			 2001 55 
			 2002 35 
			 2003 33 
			 2004 4 
			 2005 9 
			 2006 2 
			 2007 3

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Paul Goggins: The information held within the Northern Ireland Office relates only to days lost due to industrial action by current staff. Staff who have left the Department or transferred out of the Department are not included in the figures and so we are unable to provide total figures for days lost due to industrial action.

Maze Prison

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has had discussions with the Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister in Northern Ireland on the former Maze site  (a) before and  (b) since his recent public comments on the future use of the site.

Paul Goggins: During the course of his duties, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State naturally has discussions with members of the devolved administration from time to time.

Speed Limits: Cameras

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much revenue has been generated from fines imposed as a result of offences detected by speed cameras in each council area in Northern Ireland in each year since 2003.

Paul Goggins: The following table outlines the amount of revenue from fixed penalty notices for excess speed in each police District Command Unit. Data cover the calendar years 2003 to 2007.
	
		
			  Amount of revenue received for fixed penalty notices for excess speed by district command unit (DCU) 2003 - 07 
			  £ 
			  DCU  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Antrim 660 0 0 0 0 
			 Armagh 54,540 3,000 3,180 11,220 19,080 
			 Ballymena 45,360 6,960 3,960 3,600 8,220 
			 Ballymoney 16,860 1,920 1,080 12,540 52,980 
			 Banbridge 67,560 58,500 104,760 80,040 58,740 
			 Belfast East 82,260 104,520 55,320 27,900 30,480 
			 Belfast North 25,080 63,960 42,480 32,280 40,080 
			 Belfast South 17,760 18,720 16,860 14,280 9,720 
			 Belfast West 5,520 13,860 12,240 8,160 5,880 
			 Carrickfergus 11,520 2,940 600 1,920 720 
			 Castlereagh 201,600 171,900 114,480 136,980 139,140 
			 Coleraine 10,560 3,180 5,880 5,580 5,160 
			 Cookstown 1,560 2,160 9,720 10,380 16,080 
			 Craigavon 26,340 2,400 660 7,200 960 
			 Down 5,820 14,340 14,040 3,360 9,480 
			 Dungannon 10,860 11,640 20,160 49,500 42,540 
			 Fermanagh 20,880 2,700 4,320 600 4,800 
			 Foyle 23,340 29,640 28,860 15,120 18,780 
			 Lame 5,460 0 0 1,980 1,380 
			 Limavady 11,580 960 7,620 4,260 38,760 
			 Lisburn 1,740 120 0 0 2,220 
			 Magherafelt 16,020 11,100 18,540 11,040 22,740 
			 Moyle 8,460 2,460 540 600 1,380 
			 Newry and Mourne 36,180 83,820 65,160 72,120 81,120 
			 Newtownabbey 1,860 420 60 180 0 
			 Newtownards 33,180 8,220 12,240 9,120 8,700 
			 North Down 33,960 76,860 45,900 56,100 62,880 
			 Omagh 7,320 18,000 21,540 6,420 37,200 
			 Strabane 8,880 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 792,720 714,300 610,200 582,480 719,220

TREASURY

Alcoholic Drinks: Smuggling

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the resale value of untaxed spirits intercepted in England and Wales was in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Angela Eagle: Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown spirits seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Banks: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the proposal to allow major banks to translate certain mortgage debts into Government bonds was first considered by his Department; and what the reasons are for the timing of the implementation of the proposal.

Kitty Ussher: The special liquidity scheme announced by the Bank of England on April 21 is designed to provide liquidity support to participating banks and building societies by allowing them, for a temporary period, to swap mortgage backed securities and other assets for highly liquid assets in the form of Treasury Bills. The credit risk on the value of the mortgage backed securities or other assets remains with the banks and building societies.
	As set out by the Chancellor in his statement to the House on April 21, the scheme announced by the Bank of England is a further step towards tackling the liquidity issues in the financial markets which became increasingly acute during the preceding weeks. The scheme was developed following extensive discussions with the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority.

Banks: Government Securities

Graham Brady: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Special Liquidity Scheme in meeting its objectives.

Kitty Ussher: The Special Liquidity Scheme is operated by the Bank of England. In its Quarterly Bulletin issued on 16 June, the Bank noted that
	"Feedback on the Scheme from market contacts suggested that it has achieved its objective of improving the liquidity position of, and hence confidence in, the UK banking system".

Cash Dispensing: Wales

Mark Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of access to free-of-charge cash withdrawals in Mid and West Wales.

Kitty Ussher: As I announced on 17 July, excellent progress has been made towards the goal of providing around 600 new free ATMs across 1,707 low-income target areas identified by the ATM working group as lacking convenient access. I am pleased to say that of the 198 low-income target areas in Wales, 119 are now expected to benefit from convenient access to free cash withdrawals as a result of free new cash machines already in operation or under contract to be installed by the end of 2008.

Child Benefit: Personal Records

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to date has been of  (a) the investigation into the loss of data discs by HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) the planning and implementation of new procedures to avoid a future loss.

Jane Kennedy: Kieran Poynter identifies the costs of his investigation into the chain of events leading to the loss of child benefit data in October 2007 at Appendix A of the final report of his "Review of information security at HM Revenue and Customs". A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House.
	With regard to the costs associated with data security enhancements at HMRC, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor on 25 June 2008,  Official Report , column 287.

Cigarettes: Smuggling

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the resale value of illegal cigarettes intercepted in England and Wales was in each of the last three years, broken down by region.

Angela Eagle: Once condemned as forfeit to the Crown cigarettes seized by HM Revenue and Customs are destroyed thus they have no resale value.

Corporation Tax

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the projected  (a) oil and  (b) gas price used in the assumptions for modelling the North Sea oil and gas element of corporation tax was in each Budget since 1997.

Angela Eagle: The National Audit Office has audited the oil price assumption underlying public finance projections since the 1997 pre-Budget report. The current assumption is outlined in box C1 of Budget 2008.

Council Tax: Wales

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1622W, on council tax: Wales, what the timetable is for the Valuation Office Agency's updating of its website to show changes to the 2005 council tax lists in Wales since 1 April 2005 as a result of inquiry or appeal.

Jane Kennedy: It is expected that the website will be updated by 1 September 2008.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's expenditure is incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money, as well as the Department's own internal guidelines, which state that expenditure on official entertainment (including alcohol) should be incurred in moderation and also be compatible with the occasion and the standing of guests.

Departmental Compensation

John Hayes: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the 10 highest payments made by his Department were under property compensation cases brought against it over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of the cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by his Department; and what the nature of each incident was.

Angela Eagle: There were two uncontested compensation payments made in 2007-08. Both related to personal property lost during office moves and amounted to £146 and £75 respectively.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Angela Eagle: The following table shows details of conferences attended by more than 100 delegates that were hosted by HM Treasury in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Date  Conference title  Cost (£000) 
			  2006   
			 April Financial Inclusion Taskforce 19 
			 May Launch of the Third Sector Review 77 
			 May and November Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates) — 
			 June to July Third Sector Review Regional consultation (six events) 59 
			 July Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception 10 
			
			  2007   
			 May and November Special Investigations Group of government financial investigators (costs recovered from delegates) — 
			 June Young Black Entrepreneurs 5 
			 June Financial inclusion in developing countries (funded by DFID) — 
			 July Tripartite Business Continuity 4 
			 July Enterprise and Growth Unit Summer Reception 12 
			 October Financial Stability and the Challenge of Globalisation in the UK 10

Departmental Consultants

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 30 June 2008
	 Details of the Treasury's unaudited spending on consultancy in 2007-08 is shown in table A3 on page 111 of the annual report (CM 7408) available from
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/deptreport_index.cfm.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expert groups his Department has set up in each year since 1999.

Angela Eagle: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication. "Public Bodies" also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of "Public Bodies" dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	Details of Treasury's NDPBs for 2007-08 are published in Treasury's Annual Report, which can be downloaded from:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report08.cfm
	Copies are available in the Library for the reference of Members. Further details on Treasury short-term advisory groups and task forces can be found on the Treasury website:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury's expenditure on furniture and fittings over the last five years was:
	
		
			   Amount (£000) 
			 2007-08 51 
			 2006-07 4 
			 2005-06 557 
			 2004-05 518 
			 2003-04 69 
		
	
	The provision of furniture purchase volumes and analysis of expenditure into the categories identified in the question are available only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department's IT  (a) systems and  (b) services conform to the ISO 27001 standard.

Angela Eagle: None of the Department's IT systems and services are accredited as conforming to the ISO 27001 standard, although in all cases our aim is to adhere to the main principles of the standard.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many permanent staff within  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Angela Eagle: There are no "staff without post" in the Treasury or any of its agencies. "People action teams" do not exist in HMT or any of its agencies.

Departmental Marketing

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost was of  (a) internet and website design and hosting,  (b) print media design and  (c) broadcast media of each of his Department's public information campaigns since 1997.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has incurred no costs for public information campaigns since 1997.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  which make and model of car the Chief Secretary to the Treasury has chosen as his ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency;
	(2)  which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar & Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July, 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what planning applications were made by his Department between May 1997 and May 2001; and for what purpose in each case.

Angela Eagle: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Angela Eagle: The Treasury seeks prompt payment discounts in situations where such a discount will improve the total value for money from the contract; and where the potential saving from such a discount will outweigh the additional contract administration costs necessary to realise the discount.
	HM Treasury aim to pay off all valid invoices (including T & S) within 30 days.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in his Department have had five or more periods of sickness absence of less than five days in two or more of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury has a waste strategy that has over the past two years reduced waste sent to landfill, by removing general waste bins and putting recycling facilities in place, and in Rosebery Court introducing composting of organic waste. In 1 Horse Guards Road, since February 2008, food waste has been separated in the staff restaurant and sent to a biogas plant, to generate electricity.
	These measures reduced the amount of waste sent to landfill by 33 tonnes from 1 Horse Guards Road in 2007-08. Further offsite sorting by the waste contractor, removing recyclables from the waste will have further reduced the amount sent to landfill, although no figures are available. Data showing annual change in waste sent to landfill are not currently available for Rosebery Court, but the rate has also fallen.
	Detailed information on waste arising and recycling information can be found in the HM Treasury annual report 2007-08.

Devolution: Finance

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will conduct a needs-based analysis of Government funding of the devolved administrations.

Yvette Cooper: The devolved funding arrangements are set out in the 'Statement of Funding Policy', which was updated and published by the Treasury in October 2007. Under these arrangements the devolved administrations are able to allocate their block budgets to devolved spending programmes to reflect their own assessment of their priorities and needs.

Economic Stability Team

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) civil servants,  (b) special advisers and  (c) members of the Council of Economic Advisers were members of the Economic Stability team in his Department in each of the last 11 years, broken down by pay grade.

Angela Eagle: These data are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the revenues that will arise from the auctioning of emissions permits in Phase 111 of the European Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The framework for future phases of EU ETS are currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.
	The amount of revenue from auctioning in Phase 111 of the EU emissions trading scheme will be influenced by the market price of carbon at the time of the auctions. The Government do not comment on carbon price, as it would be improper for Government to speculate on how the market will function in the future.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Willie Rennie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what plans the Government has for spending revenues raised through the auctioning of allowances from the  (a) second and  (b) third phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of the revenues generated by auctioning of allowances from the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme will be spent on  (a) research and development for renewable energy,  (b) carbon capture and storage development and  (c) energy efficiency improvements.

Angela Eagle: The framework for future phases of EU ETS is currently under discussion and as such the final structure for auctioning in future phases has not yet been decided. The revised EU ETS directive is due to be finalised later this year.
	Any revenue raised through the use of auctioning would be considered part of general revenue streams, and the spending review process ensures that resources are allocated efficiently to deliver Government objectives.
	Comprehensive spending review 2007 launched the domestic Environmental Transformation Fund (ETF) of over £400 million. Budget 2008 announced the full allocation of funding under the ETF, including offshore wind, carbon capture components, wave and tidal, hydrogen fuel cells and microgeneration, as well as support for energy efficiency in small businesses, households and the public sector.

EU External Trade: Israel

Tom Levitt: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof of origin certificates HM Revenue and Customs has accepted under the 1 February 2005 technical arrangement enabling companies operating inside Israel to maintain trade preferences under the EU-Israel Association Agreement; and what the value of this trade has been.

Jane Kennedy: Between 1 February 2005 and 30 June 2008 HM Revenue and Customs received 99,757 customs import declarations which were accompanied by proofs of preferential origin issued in Israel. The total value of the trade was £1,350,690,522.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Ben Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the effects on public houses of  (a) past and  (b) future increases in levels of taxes on alcohol;
	(2)  whether he has conducted or evaluated research on the possible relationship between levels of duty on alcohol and the rate of closure of public houses.

Angela Eagle: As part of the Budget process, I met representatives from the trade, including the British Beer and Pub Association, to listen to their views on the current situation and the cost pressures in the industry.
	As with all tax policy decisions, we will be monitoring the impact of alcohol duty increases on a range of factors.

Excise Duties: Diesel Fuel

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of receipts from duty paid on diesel by the rail industry in 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 3 July 2008
	No estimate has been made for 2007-08.
	Energy statistics from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, available at www.berr.gov.uk, indicate that 654 thousand tonnes (775 million litres) of gas oil ('red diesel') was consumed by the rail industry in 2006.
	Applying the duty rate for rebated oils to this figure gives an estimate of revenue in 2006 of approximately £50 million.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many people paid vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate in 2007-08 in respect of cars of engine size  (a) 1549cc and below and  (b) above 1549cc; what estimate his Department has made of the number of vehicles in each category in low-income households; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the number of people who will pay vehicle excise duty (VED) at the pre-graduated rate in 2008-09; how many will pay VED at  (a) a lower rate,  (b) a higher rate and  (c) the same rate in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the revenue from vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate from vehicles with engine sizes of  (a) 1549cc and below and  (b) above 1549cc in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the number of cars with engine sizes  (a) 1549cc or below and  (b) above 1549cc liable for vehicle excise duty at the pre-graduated rate in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and what estimate he has made of the number of cars in each category in low-income households in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new vehicles were registered in each year from 2001 to 2006, broken down by each of the new vehicle excise duty (VED) bands to be applied to cars registered in those years; what the net tax take will be from the applications of these new bands to those vehicles; and what the net tax take for those vehicles would have been had VED continued to be applied as previously.

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the evidential basis was for his statement of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 765, that the majority of drivers will benefit from the proposed changes to vehicle excise duty; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effect of his proposed changes to vehicle excise duty on disabled people;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect of proposed vehicle excise duty increases on vehicle owners rural areas with limited public transport.

Angela Eagle: The Budget 2008 included proposed reforms to the system of CO2-based VED, aimed at strengthening the incentive to develop and use cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars. The reforms build on the system of banding by CO2 emissions introduced in 2001 in response to rising concern over the impact of vehicle emissions.
	While CO2 emissions from new cars have dropped by 13 per cent. since 1997, overall emissions from road transport still account for over 20 per cent. of the UK's total emissions and it is clear that we must go further to ensure we meet our environmental targets.
	Proposed EU targets supported by the Government mean the CO2 emissions of an average new car will need to be cut to 130 grams per kilometre by 2012. In addition, the King review, published alongside the Budget, showed that carbon emissions could be reduced by 25 per cent. if motorists shifted to the lowest carbon car within a particular class.
	The Budget 2008 reforms to VED will increase the number of bands from seven to 13 in 2009-10. From 2010-11, new cars will be taxed differently in the first year to influence purchasing choices at the point of sale. Overall these measures will ensure that drivers of the lowest emitting cars will benefit from a reduced VED rate and those who drive higher emitting cars will pay more.
	The following tables are based on the new VED bands published on page 122 of the Budget Red Book and set out estimates for the number of cars that will sit within each new VED band in both 2009 and 2010. They also show how the amount that these cars pay will compare in real terms to the rate in 2008. Those who are eligible for the higher mobility element of disability living allowance are exempt from VED. In addition, there is also an exemption for organisations that operate passenger vehicles for the benefit of disabled people. In total, over 1.1 million disabled motorists are exempt from VED.
	Furthermore, Government continue to support the long established motability scheme, set up by the Government in 1977 to provide disabled people with safe, reliable and affordable cars.
	By 2010, 55 per cent. of motorists will pay less or the same in real terms as a result of these reforms. In addition, excluding first rates for new vehicles, the reforms mean that:
	80 per cent. will pay no more than £55 extra;
	95 per cent. will pay no more than £100 extra; and
	5 per cent. will pay between £100 and £245 extra.
	
		
			  2009-10 
			  Band  C O 2  (g/km)  2009-10  Percentage pay less  Percentage pay the same  Percentage pay more 
			 A Up to 100 400 0 100 0 
			 B 101-110 217,000 100 0 0 
			 C 111-120 470,000 100 0 0 
			 D 121-130 670,000 100 0 0 
			 E 131-140 2,394,000 100 0 0 
			 F 141-150 3,087,000 100 0. 0 
			 G 151-160 3,256,000 0 100 0 
			 H 161-170 2,400,000 0 50 50 
			 I 171-180 1,785,000 0 0 100 
			 J 181-200 2,577,000 0 0 100 
			 K 201-225 2,550,000 0 0 100 
			 L 226-255 277,000 0 0 100 
			 M Over 255 311,000 0 0 100 
			 All bands  19,994,400 34 22 44 
		
	
	
		
			  2010-11 
			  Band  CO 2  (g/km)  2010-11  Percentage pay less  Percentage pay the same  Percentage pay more 
			 A Up to 100 9,000 0 100 0 
			 B 101-110 266,000 100 0 0 
			 C 111-120 565,000 20 80 0 
			 D 121-130 822,000 100 0 0 
			 E 131-140 2,813,000 100 0 0 
			 F 141-150 3,393,000 0 100 0 
			 G 151-160 3,560,000 0 100 0 
			 H 161-170 2,558,000 0 40 60 
			 I 171-180 1,912,000 0 0 100 
			 J 181-200 2,714,000 0 0 100 
			 K 201-225 1,535,000 0 0 100 
			 L 226-255 1,002,000 0 0 100 
			 M Over 255 766,000 0 0 100 
			 All bands  21,915,000 18 39 43 
		
	
	The graduated VED rate will apply to all cars for which emissions data are available, i.e. those first registered after March 2001. For cars purchased pre-March 2001, different rates apply.
	There are also separate arrangements in place for alternative fuel cars which are defined as 'gas-propelled vehicles, and those capable of being propelled by petrol and gas or electricity and petrol/diesel'.
	These cars will receive a discount on their graduated VED. In 2008-09, alterative fuel cars in bands A to E receive a £20 discount from the standard graduated VED rate, and cars in bands F and G receive a £15 discount. In 2009-10, the discount for cars in new bands A to I will be £20, and £15 for cars in bands J to M. In 2010-11, all alternative fuel cars will receive a £10 discount from the standard rate.
	As has been the practice under successive Governments, the VED rates will apply to all cars, including second-hand ones, where emissions data are available. Since the number of used cars sold is three times that of new cars, it is important to provide an environmental incentive to the used car market as well as the new car market.
	The new rates will include a transitional period for cars registered between March 2001 and March 2006 that emit 225g/km or higher. These cars have been charged at a lower rate since 2006. They are currently charged the rate for current band F (£210), when the correct band for their emissions is band G (£400).
	In order to reduce the financial impact on these motorists in any one year, these vehicles will be charged a lower transitional rate of £300 in 2009, before moving into band L or M in 2010—bringing them in line with all other vehicles with the same emission levels. This group represents the 5 per cent. of motorists in graduated VED who will pay between £100 and £245 extra in non first year rates from 2010.
	The graduated VED rates do not apply to cars purchased before March 2001, as there are no comprehensive emissions data available for these vehicles. Motorists who bought their cars before March 2001 will continue to pay VED based on the size of the engine. Cars with engines below 1549 cc will have their VED rate frozen at £120 in 2009—a fall in real terms—while cars with engines above 1550 cc will see their VED rate increase by £15. Having different rates depending on the engine size ensures that there is an environmental signal for VED taxation for pre-2001 cars, taking account of the data available.
	The following table is based on the categories for pre- March 2001 cars published on page 123 of the Budget Red Book and sets out the current Treasury estimate of the number of cars that will sit within each category.
	
		
			  Estimated number of pre-2001 cars by band 
			   2007-08  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 1549cc and below 4,198,000 3,771,000 3,322,000 2,851,000 
			 1550 cc and above 7,091,000 6,403,000 5,687,000 4,934,000 
		
	
	In 1997 the rate of VED was £145. Had the Government simply uprated the duty in line with inflation then all motorists would have to pay £200 in 2009. Therefore, all cars purchased prior to 2001 will pay no more in real terms in 2009 than in 1997. The single VED band meant that all car owners were taxed the same amount, regardless of the type of car that they drive. By introducing and then reforming graduated VED since 2001, the Government have made the system less regressive, as well as ensuring that the most polluting cars pay more than the least polluting.
	Statistics for the number of the vehicles in low-income households are not available for 2007-08, and has not been forecast for 2008-09 onwards. The Government do not collect data from drivers when purchasing tax discs according to their household income. The best available relevant data on the impact of VED on low income households are set out in my PQ answer of 4 June.
	The Treasury does not hold information on the specific impact of proposed vehicle excise duties on rural areas. Working vehicles that do not use public roads other than for travelling no more than 1.5 kilometres between different areas of land owned by the same person are exempt from VED.

Financial Services Authority: Northern Ireland

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will establish an office of the Financial Services Authority in Northern Ireland.

Kitty Ussher: The Financial Services Authority conducts a range of events to ensure effective communication with firms based in Northern Ireland. These are an operational matter for the FSA, which is independent of Government.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Angela Eagle: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost by the PFI provider of catering services to the Treasury.

Fruit: Scotland

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the amount the Exchequer received from the Scottish fruit industry in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: No such estimate has been made by the Treasury.

Fuels: Prices

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the relationship between speculation on futures markets and prices of crude oil and gas.

Angela Eagle: The Government published their latest assessment of the relationship between speculation on futures markets and commodity prices, including crude oil and gas, in "Global Commodities: a long-term vision for stable, secure and sustainable global markets" on 12 June 2008.

Insurance: Unfair Practices

Harry Cohen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department proposes to take on overcharging in relation to payment protection insurance policies as reported by the Competition Commission.

Kitty Ussher: The Competition Commission's report of 5 June 2008 on payment protection insurance is a provisional findings report. Her Majesty's Treasury will maintain a close dialogue with industry and the independent Financial Ombudsman Service, Financial Services Authority, Competition Commission, and the Office of Fair Trading.

Members: Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his letter of 12 May regarding a constituent, reference 96705.

Angela Eagle: I understand the correspondence referred to, initially sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, is being dealt with by DCMS.

Minimum Wage: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people aged  (a) under 18,  (b) under 21 and  (c) over 60 years were found to be paid below the minimum wage in (i) Hampshire and (ii) Southampton in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Minimum Wage: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies in Tamworth have been  (a) fined and  (b) required to cease trading for non-compliance with national minimum wage provisions since 2005.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC does not maintain statistical information at constituency level.

Mortgages: Repossession Orders

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many homes have been repossessed by Northern Rock since nationalisation.

Kitty Ussher: During this period of temporary public ownership, Northern Rock is managed by its board at arm's length from the Government on commercial principles. It is a matter for the company's management to release specific business updates or provide any required disclosures in their audited annual report and accounts.

Non-Domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications for exemption from business rates have been submitted to the Valuation Office Agency in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The numbers of proposals received by the Valuation Office Agency over the last five years, seeking removal from the non-domestic lists, including those where it is claimed the property is now wholly domestic is:
	
		
			   England and Wales 
			 2003-04 1,397 
			 2004-05 1,338 
			 2005-06 931 
			 2006-07 654 
			 2007-08 731 
			 Total 5,051

Northern Rock

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether  (a) he and (b) another of the tripartite authorities has conducted an inquiry into the leak of the offer of emergency assistance to Northern Rock on 13 September 2007.

Kitty Ussher: As the Chancellor told the Treasury Committee on 25 October 2007, the Treasury did not conduct a leak inquiry. Nor have the Bank of England or the Financial Services Authority.

Occupational Health: Costs

Jo Swinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to  (a) the economy and  (b) the Exchequer of stress-related illnesses in the last year.

Angela Eagle: Dame Carol Black's review of the health of Britain's working age population estimated that the cost to the economy of sickness absence and worklessness associated with working age ill-health are over £100 billion a year, which includes stress related illness.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Angela Eagle: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid-Kent (Hugh Robertson), the Shadow Sports and Olympics Minister on 19 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 5-6W.
	The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.

Public Expenditure

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has set a date for the publication of the Government's factual paper on the Barnett Formula.

Yvette Cooper: No decision has been made yet on the date of publication.

Public Sector: Pay

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what  (a) economic models and  (b) mechanisms his Department uses to estimate the effect of average public sector pay increases on inflation.

Yvette Cooper: Government policy is to ensure that public sector pay settlements:
	Reflect the individual labour market position of workforces, particularly their recruitment and retention position;
	Are consistent with the achievement by the Bank of England of its CPI inflation target of 2 per cent.;
	Are affordable for departments; and
	Represent value for money for taxpayers.
	Consistency with the inflation target does not mean that there is a specific number which is the target for pay awards. But it does mean that pay awards need to support low and stable inflation.
	A wide range of factors can potentially impact on inflationary pressure. These factors are considered by the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank England when setting interest rates to meet the inflation target. An assessment of inflationary pressures is available in the Bank of England's quarterly inflation report. The Treasury publishes its own inflation forecast in the Budget and the pre-Budget report.

Public Transport: Rural Areas

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on spending on public transport in rural areas.

Yvette Cooper: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with their colleagues in other Departments and with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

Revenue and Customs: Leave

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff or call centre staff have been asked to postpone leave arrangements in the last six months; how many have agreed to do so; and what  (a) financial and  (b) other compensation has been offered to them.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Revenue and Customs: Salisbury

Robert Key: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when in 2009 HM Revenue and Customs' lease on Alexandra House, Salisbury terminates; whether the office will be co-located with Jobcentre Plus officials at Summerlock House, Salisbury following the termination of the lease; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC currently occupies Alexandra House, Salisbury under an agreement with HM Court Services who own the building but there is no lease arrangement. Court Services are seeking to sell the building and have recently given HMRC notice to leave by 29 May 2009. The sale of the building will not prejudice the outcome of a national review currently being carried out on the Department's property needs to match future business requirements. HMRC is seeking alternative accommodation in Salisbury to meet its future business requirements and is considering the suitability of a number of options, including the availability of Summerlock House. No decision about HMRC's future location in Salisbury has been taken yet.

Revenue and Customs: Vacancies

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which HM Revenue and Customs operational areas in Wales there are staff shortages, broken down by role.

Jane Kennedy: Work is in progress through HMRC's Workforce Change Programme to address staff distribution requirements aligned to business transformation.
	There is an ongoing recruitment exercise for a number of HMRC contact centres including Cardiff. In Wales specifically HMRC currently have 15 vacancies and these breakdown into the following grades: 11 higher officers, four officers.
	These vacancies are in a number of business areas and are being advertised to existing staff, with priority given to pre-surplus staff.

Smuggling: Wildlife

Linda Riordan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many products made from endangered wildlife sources have been seized by HM Revenue and Customs in 2008 to date.

Jane Kennedy: HM Revenue and Customs made the following seizures of endangered species between 1 January 2008 and 31 March 2008:
	
		
			   Number of seizures  Number of items seized  Weight of items seized (kg) 
			 Live animals and birds 8 23 — 
			 Parts and derivatives of endangered species 24 453 0.62 
			 Ivory 6 75 — 
			 Plants 1 55 — 
			 Other species listed under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (including coral, caviar and ginseng) 19 685 8.42 
			 Preparations of oriental medicines which include parts or derivatives of endangered species 14 5,748 57.11 
		
	
	CITES seizures are recorded by number of items seized or by weight, whichever is the most practical. Apart from the live specimens, all of the above categories may include products of endangered species.
	The total number of seizures of endangered species items for the financial year 2007-08 can found at Annex F of HMRC's Departmental Report 2008 at:
	www.hmrc.gov.uk

Stamp Duty Land Tax: Tax Allowances

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many dwellings in  (a) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (b) Leeds West constituency have been subject to stamp duty tax relief on zero carbon homes.

Kitty Ussher: Since the stamp duty land tax relief for zero carbon homes was introduced in October 2007 nobody in the Leeds Metropolitan District or the Leeds West constituency has claimed the relief.

Taxation: Aviation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of levels of taxes on passengers and flights in other European Union member states.

Angela Eagle: The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess the level of taxes on passengers and flights in other European Union states.

Taxation: Aviation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made for benchmarking purposes of aviation taxation systems in other European Union member states which generate revenue other than on an individual flight or passenger basis.

Angela Eagle: The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government will of course assess systems of aviation taxation in other European Union states.

Taxation: Aviation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent studies he has commissioned on the economic effects of aviation duty on the aviation industry.

Angela Eagle: The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Treasury is working with the Department for Transport and with key industry stakeholders to assess the economic effects of the aviation duty on the aviation industry.

Taxation: Aviation

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent studies he has commissioned to evaluate the effect of UK aviation taxation on UK businesses competing with other businesses in Europe and globally.

Angela Eagle: The Government are currently developing policy options following the announcement at pre-Budget report 2007 that air passenger duty would be replaced by a per plane duty in November 2009 and the formal consultation on this new tax, which considered all aspects of the operation of the duty, closed on 24 April. As part of this process, the Government are working with key stakeholders to assess the likely effects of the aviation duty on the wider economy.

Taxation: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many compliance enquiries following the receipt of a P810 form were carried out in Wales in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information is not available.

Taxation: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate HM Revenue and Customs has made of the loss of revenue to the Exchequer arising from  (a) unprocessed and  (b) destroyed P810 forms in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Taxation: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many P810 forms have been received from people resident in Wales in each month of the last five years; on how many of these forms action has not been taken; how many such forms have been destroyed; and on what date the destroyed forms were  (a) received and  (b) destroyed.

Jane Kennedy: The requested information on the numbers of Welsh residents who have received or completed a form P810 is not available.
	Once a form P810 (Tax Review Form) has been dealt it is retained for the tax year it was received plus two full tax years.

Valuation Office

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1629W, on the Valuation Office, how many households in England received a visit from a Valuation Office Agency official in the most recent  (a) year and  (b) other period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: For the last year, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1688W. The approximate number of visits in other periods for which figures are available are 110,000 in 2005 and 125,000 in 2006.

Working Tax Credit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres are piloting the face to face interviews in working tax credit take-up.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC's Enquiry Centres at Belfast, Cosham (near Portsmouth), Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Newport (Gwent) participated in a pilot during May and June 2008 designed to encourage the take-up of working tax credit.

Working Tax Credit: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in Halifax received working tax credit in 2007-08.

Jane Kennedy: HMRC do not produce these statistics separately for child tax credit and working tax credit.
	Estimates of the number of families with tax credit awards in 2006-07 in each constituency, based on final family circumstances and incomes, are available in the HMRC publication "Child and Working Tax Credits Statistics. Finalised Annual Awards 2006-07. Geographical Analyses". This publication is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/cwtc-geog-stats.htm
	The same information for 2007-08 is not yet available because awards have not yet been finalised.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he plans to answer Questions  (a) 208270,  (b) 208268,  (c) 208271 and  (d) 208269 on vehicle excise duty, tabled by the hon. Member for Putney on 30 May 2008.

Angela Eagle: I have replied to the hon. Member's questions today.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates Levy

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to reach conclusions following his Department's aggregates levy consultation; and whether he plans to publish the outcome of the consultation.

Jonathan R Shaw: The outcome of the consultation on the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund was put on the consultations section of DEFRA's website on 10 July.

Agriculture: Foreigners

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of foreign workers participating in the seasonal farm workers scheme in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of the number in 2008.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	The annual quota for the number of foreign workers who were permitted to enter the United Kingdom under the auspices of the seasonal agricultural workers scheme in 2005, 2006 and 2007 was 16,250. The quota was met in each year. The quota for 2008 is also 16,250.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to make the Single Farm Payment for 2007 to the constituent of the hon. Member for West Worcestershire, Mr. Robert Philipson-Stow of Pendock Estates.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 July 2008
	 The Rural Payments Agency has made the single payment scheme payment for 2007 to Mr. Robert Philipson-Stow.

Animal Welfare: Research

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on the sharing of funding for animal health and welfare research between Departments; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) funds a wide range of animal health and welfare research projects. The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is the Government Department which funds the BBSRC.
	I have not had specific discussions with the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on this issue. I consider that good working links exist between DEFRA and BBRSC, who keep each other informed about research funding plans and aim to have well co-ordinated research programmes. Regular interaction takes place between DEFRA, the BBSRC and other UK research funders through various media such as the UK Animal Disease Research Funders' Forum, the Microbial Safety of Food Funders' Group and the UK TSE Research and Development Co-ordination Group. Joint activities such as scientific workshops and research calls have been organised by these groups.
	DEFRA has observer status at meetings of the BBSRC Animal Sciences and AgriFood Committees. Both DEFRA and BBSRC are involved in the EU Standing Committee on Agricultural Research, the Collaborative Working Group on Animal Health and Welfare Research and the ERA-NET on emerging and major infectious diseases of livestock.
	In addition to this close interaction, the BBSRC and DEFRA have jointly funded projects on viral disease of livestock. DEFRA also co-fund a number of projects identified from the BBSRC responsive mode grant applications under the Government Partnership Awards scheme.

Bees

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department provided to  (a) the National Bee Unit and  (b) the Bee Inspectorate in 2001-02.

Jonathan R Shaw: Expenditure on the National Bee Unit, which includes the Bee Inspectorate, by DEFRA and the Welsh Assembly Government in 2001-02 was £1,583,000.

Bees

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent by his Department on bee health research in each of the last 10 years.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 855W.

Bees

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much per annum is contributed to the agricultural economy by the honey bee sector.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1324W.

Bees

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of recent trends in the honey bee population in England.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1324W.

Bees: Disease Control

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the threat of the Varroa mite to the honey bee population.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave on 20 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 171-72W.

Bees: Disease Control

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent studies he has commissioned on tackling the Varroa mite.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave on 12 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1324W.

Bees: Disease Control

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment he has made of exotic threats to the honey bee population, with particular reference to the small hive beetle.

Jonathan R Shaw: The possibility of the small hive beetle arriving in the UK is a recognised threat to the health of honey bees and the National Bee Unit remains vigilant for the arrival of this and other exotic pests and diseases. To promote early detection, publicity material has been distributed to help raise individual beekeepers' awareness of the risk. Plant health import inspectors and horticultural marketing inspectors have also been alerted, as one possible entry pathway is imported fruit. To help mitigate this threat, DEFRA has developed a contingency plan in consultation with stakeholders and is also pressing the European Commission to introduce tighter contingency arrangements to reduce the risk of spread should the small hive beetle be introduced into another member state. Additionally, DEFRA is funding research into a "lure and kill" monitoring system for rapid deployment should the small hive beetle be detected.
	The relative priorities that should be given to the various pest and disease threats to bees are addressed in the draft bee health strategy that is currently out for public consultation.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned on the role of maize and trace element deficiency in the spread of M.bovis.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	 : While the role of maize in the spread of  Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) has not been specifically investigated by any DEFRA funded research projects, the case-control studies carried out as part of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) did investigate associations between a number of feed types and risk of a herd TB breakdown. Studies TB99 and CCS2005, found an association between feeding silage and the use of grass feeding types for grazing/forage and an increase in risk of TB breakdown, respectively. The findings of these studies are in the final report of the Independent Scientific Group report on cattle TB. In addition TB99 also identified not using feeding supplements as a risk factor for confirmed cases of TB.
	The association between  M. bovis infection and trace elements such as selenium, copper and vitamin B12 status of cattle was investigated as part of the DEFRA funded project "Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Cattle—Complementary Field Studies" (project SE3013), carried out at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). While little evidence was found for a difference by TB status in copper or B12, associations were found between low levels of selenium and a higher risk of an animal being infected with  M.bovis. However, given the design of the study and the evidence that the action of some micro-nutrients can be substantially influenced by the levels of others it was not possible to conclude that the observed associations were causal. The full report can be downloaded from DEFRA's website.
	I remain open minded about the possibility of a nutritional link but because of the number of variables involved and the likelihood a causal link could never be proven I am not inclined to fund further research into this subject.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the cattle testing regime in preventing cattle-to-cattle transmission of bovine tuberculosis; and what representations he has received on the frequency of the tests under the regime.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	The underlying principle of our bovine TB test and slaughter programme is to identify infected cattle as early as possible and minimise the risk of the transmission of the disease within and between cattle herds. Many countries where infection is maintained solely through spread between cattle have eradicated bovine TB through the systematic testing and reactor slaughter programme that we use today.
	DEFRA has funded, and is currently funding, a number of research projects modelling the potential impacts of various cattle movement control scenarios on the spread of TB—final reports are published on the DEFRA website. We recognise the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of the TB control programme—and we will enhance controls in the light of emerging evidence. New policies introduced in recent years include: zero tolerance for overdue TB tests (i.e. herd movement restrictions applied immediately a test becomes overdue); mandatory pre-movement testing of cattle in high risk areas; and increased use of the gamma interferon blood test. These measures increase our ability to identify infected cattle, thereby reducing the risk of disease spread. We have also been working with stakeholders to raise awareness of simple biosecurity measures to further reduce transmission risks between animals.
	Increasing the frequency of bovine TB testing in some areas was one of the additional measures recommended by the Independent Science Group (ISG). Initial cost benefit analysis of increasing the frequency of cattle testing suggests that they would come at a high cost with limited benefits—and so would be difficult to justify in terms of Government expenditure. Decisions about the value of such measures, and how they might be funded, are as much, if not more, a question for industry as for Government and will need to be discussed by the Bovine TB Partnership Group.
	Our current approach to determining the minimum levels of routine testing for cattle herds is risk-based and consistent with the requirements of EU Council Directive 64/432/EEC. Parish Testing Intervals reflect the local level of bovine TB prevalence, and are reviewed each year to take account of any change in the disease situation. An increase in the levels of disease in an area triggers more frequent testing. Divisional Veterinary Managers (Animal Health) are already empowered to increase testing if local or individual herd circumstances indicate that such action is required.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimates he has made of the number of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the bovine tuberculosis regime in the next three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	 My Department has not attempted to estimate the numbers of cattle likely to be slaughtered under the bovine tuberculosis control regime in the next three years.
	It is very difficult to make such forecasts due to the chronic, multifactorial and insidious nature of bovine TB. The number of cattle slaughtered as tuberculosis (TB) test reactors and direct contacts largely depends on (i) the underlying prevalence of the infection in the cattle (and badger) population and (ii) the intensity and accuracy of the TB screening programme for cattle herds. The former is subject to cyclical changes in the endemic TB areas that are difficult to predict, whereas the latter is subject to annual changes as TB herd testing frequencies are reviewed every year in response to the incidence of herd breakdowns in the previous years. Furthermore, the enhancements to the TB testing regime introduced over the last two years (such as pre-movement testing and gamma-interferon blood testing) are expected to result in higher numbers of reactors being identified each year, at least in the short to medium term.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Statement of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1157-8, on bovine TB, if he will publish the evidence which underlay his evaluation of the PCR test reported to the House on 7 July 2008.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	A number of diagnostic tests for the detection of  Mycobacterium bovis ( M .  bovis) infection in badgers have been developed through DEFRA funded research projects at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA). The final reports of completed research projects have been published on the DEFRA website.
	Bovine TB is currently confirmed by culture of  M. bovis in the laboratory. However,  M. bovis grows very slowly so culture results can take six weeks to several months to come through. DEFRA funded VLA project SE3008 (April 1999-December 2004), 'Detection and enumeration of  M. bovis from clinical and environmental samples', aimed to develop PCR-based methods that may allow rapid screening of samples from infected cattle and monitoring of the environment and badger populations for the presence of  M. bovis. This research showed that while the PCR test specific for  M. bovis was found to be only 50 per cent. as sensitive as the gold standard of culture, the sensitivity of the  M. tuberculosis complex PCR test (i.e. a less specific PCR able to detect mycobacteria that are members of the M. tb complex) was increased from 70 per cent., to 90 per cent., by the end of the project. While such low sensitivities for  M. bovis detection rules out the use of this PCR test for use on environmental samples and excretions collected from badgers, with further development and evaluation this test could be used in the laboratory to achieve faster confirmation and subsequent tracing of bTB infection in slaughterhouse cases.
	Work funded by DEFRA to validate the PCR test developed by Warwick University to detect  M. bovis in the environment is ongoing (Project SE3231: 'Validation and epidemiological application of molecular methods for monitoring  M.  bovis survival and dissemination into the environment'). This is a joint project between the VLA, Warwick University and University College, London and includes validation of the test using field samples. A full project description is available on the DEFRA website. A final report on the work will be published following its completion in April 2010.
	If it is shown to be usable as a robust practical field test, consideration of its potential use in any bTB control policy will need to take account of the results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which showed that localised culling was associated with an increase in cattle herd TB breakdowns due to the perturbation effect on badgers and increased transmission of bTB.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will give a breakdown of his Department's expenditure on bovine tuberculosis expenditure in 2007-08 by main budget heading; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for the rest of the current comprehensive spending review period; and what assumptions underlay that estimate.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	GB expenditure on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in 2007-08 was £79.8 million. However, we are unable to provide an accurate forecast of expenditure on bTB in the period of the 2008-11 comprehensive spending review as budgets have not yet been finalised.
	The following table shows the breakdown expenditure on bovine TB in 2007-08;
	
		
			  Activity  2007-08 
			 Cattle Testing 32.6 
			 Compensation 29.7 
			 RBCT 0.03 
			 Surveillance activity by the VLA 7.9 
			 Other Research(1) 8.5 
			 HQ/Overheads 1.2 
			 Totals 79.93 
			 (1) Figure does not include research into culling methods or the badger population survey.  Notes: 1. Cattle testing—the cost of carrying out the testing of cattle for TB by arranging, assessing and monitoring tests, conducting investigations of incident herds and diagnostic testing by local veterinary inspectors on behalf of DEFRA. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales (funded by DEFRA). 2. Compensation—includes payments for 'reactors' and 'contact animals' which are compulsorily slaughtered. This includes 'salvage' money received by the Government for those carcasses which are permitted to go into the food chain or are eligible for over 30 month scheme payments. Note: These costs include Scotland and Wales and are funded by their respective Governments. 3. Surveillance activity by the VLA—includes all DEFRA-funded work carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency relating to TB in cattle and badgers including the supply of tuberculin. 5. HQ/overheads—includes staff costs for veterinary advice and administration of TB policy in England, Scotland and Wales.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  under what budget heading expenditure on vaccination against bovine tuberculosis will be incurred over the next three years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the expenditure from the  (a) bovine tuberculosis budget and  (b) animal health budget required for the vaccination policy announced on 7 July 2008 which is additional to original allocations under those headings.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	Of the £20 million identified as funding for vaccine research by the Secretary of State, £10.4 million has already been contracted from the existing tuberculosis programme research budgets. The additional £9.6 million has not yet been contracted and will be funded from an expanded research budget.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what cost-benefit analysis his Department has undertaken of pre-movement testing of cattle.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	The regulatory impact assessment (RIA) that supports pre-movement testing has been reviewed and updated in light of phase one experience. The reviewed RIA is available on the DEFRA website.
	A review of pre-movement testing will be carried out following the period of peak cattle movements in autumn 2008. By then, a full year of normal trading data should be available to assess. This will allow an analysis of cattle movements in spring and autumn, which are the most challenging delivery periods, thereby providing sufficient data for a comprehensive review.
	In the meantime, monitoring of the impacts of the policy is ongoing and statistics continue to be published on the DEFRA website.

Climate Change

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the statement in the Climate Change Bill Committee of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 252, by the Minister for the Environment, the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth (Mr. Woolas) if he will place in the Library a copy of his letter to Lord Turner on the publication of interim findings by the independent Climate Change Committee.

Phil Woolas: I am writing to the noble Lord Turner in the terms I set out in the Climate Change Bill Committee of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 282 and will place a copy of this letter in the Libraries of the House.

Climate Change: Regional Planning and Development

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to his Department's press release of 19th May 2008, how much the Regional Climate Change Partnerships received from his Department in 2007-08; and how much they will receive in 2008-09.

Joan Ruddock: As part of the funding boost announced for regional climate adaptation on 19 May 2008, each Regional Climate Change Partnership in England will have the opportunity to bid for £450,000 funding (£50,000 per partnership) in 2008-09. Each partnership has been invited to submit a bid for the funds under five broad adaptation themes. We are currently in the process of assessing each bid with the Government offices before allocating the funding for 2008-09. As this is a new programme in this year, no funding was available during the 2007-08 financial year.
	In addition to this programme, each partnership also receives support indirectly from DEFRA through DEFRA funded bodies such as the Environment Agency, regional development agencies and the UK Climate Impacts Programme.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department and its agencies spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Jonathan R Shaw: In financial year 2007-08, DEFRA spent £6.9 million on branding and marketing activity—including the cost of publication storage and fulfilment. The vast majority of this spend was promoting the cross-government Act on CO2 campaign. The balance was spent on smaller campaigns including those alerting the public of the law relating to personal food imports, alerting businesses to new REACH regulations and communicating with farmers on a variety of issues, particularly animal disease control.
	This information for DEFRA's agencies and NDPBs is not held centrally and could be gained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of staff of his Department and its agencies did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table shows details of the proportion of staff who did not receive the maximum bonus possible under a bonus scheme applying to them in the last two years. For DEFRA, the data relate to staff in core-DEFRA, Animal Health, Government Decontamination Service, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Pesticides Safety Directorate and Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2006-07  2007-08 
			 DEFRA 87.8 84.7 
			 RPA 84.8 86.1 
			 VLA 87.7 86.8 
			 CSL 77.8 76.9 
			 CEFAS 84.5 83.9 
		
	
	Bonuses are used to reward excellent performance during the year and are based on a judgment of how well an individual has performed relative to their peers. Performance related pay schemes encourage high attainment because bonuses have to be earned each year. They help drive high performance in Departments and agencies and support better public service delivery.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working days have been lost due to sickness among employees for which his Department and its predecessor were responsible for each year since 1997.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on sickness absence in the civil service is available at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp.
	Published data are available from the 2004 calendar year to the 2006-07 financial year. The number of working days lost due to sickness in DEFRA was as follows:
	
		
			   Days 
			 2004 56,000 
			 2005 59,826 
			 2006-07 48,026 
		
	
	Data on days lost to sickness before 2004 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have installed  (a) bin weighing technology and  (b) RFID chips in household bins, according to records held by (i) his Department and (ii) the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Joan Ruddock: Neither my Department nor the Waste and Resources Action Programme hold these data.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment of the effectiveness of bin weighing technology was undertaken as part of his Department's evaluation of the household waste incentive pilot scheme.

Joan Ruddock: No separate assessment of bin weighing technology was undertaken as part of my Department's evaluation of the reward-only household incentive pilots (carried out in 2005-06).
	Some of the authorities involved in the pilots used bin weighing technology. The report notes that in some areas difficulties were experienced with individual bin weighing technology and recommends that authorities wishing to utilise bin weighing systems ensure that they have been demonstrated to work effectively.
	The report notes that using bin weighing technology was considered to be very effective in one of the pilot areas. Several bin weighing systems also operate successfully overseas. Some of these are referenced in a report produced on waste charging, which is publicly available on DEFRA's website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/strategy/incentives/pdf/wasteincentives-research-0507.pdf
	The full report on the reward-only household incentive pilot is also publicly available on DEFRA's website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/encourage.htm.

Domestic Wastes: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the household waste incentive pilot scheme reports for the pilots conducted in  (a) Hammersmith and Fulham and Lambeth,  (b) Leeds and  (c) South Norfolk.

Joan Ruddock: The reports for all of the reward-only household incentive pilot schemes (carried out in 2005-06) are publicly available on DEFRA's website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/encourage.htm.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on the use of commingled collections of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: Decisions on the best method for collecting waste and recyclables are a matter for local authorities, not DEFRA.
	DEFRA policy is that local authorities should decide how to discharge their responsibilities for waste management and recycling in the light of their local circumstances and the evidence which is available on the strengths and weaknesses of different arrangements.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has published evidence on the relative costs of different systems for collecting waste. WRAP's research concluded that, in current market conditions, kerbside sort systems were likely to show lower overall recycling costs for the local authority than co-mingled collections. However, it also recognised that for some local authorities, especially in highly urban areas, co-mingled collections may be more practical.
	WRAP is also studying the management of recycling in Materials Recovery Facilities to see how the resulting material can be improved in quality so that it is suitable for use in high value applications.

Domestic Wastes: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action Programme has provided to waste collection authorities on the use of separate individual bins for food, glass, paper, plastic and residual waste.

Joan Ruddock: The Government funded Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) published a guidance document for local authorities, dealing with Alternate Weekly Collection of household waste, in July 2007. This guidance document includes a discussion of the issues that a local authority may wish to consider, including the type of collection system to be used for the material put out for recycling. However, the guidance document does not recommend any particular collection methods as being better than any other.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of UK electronic waste exported outside the EU which has been  (a) re-used,  (b) recycled and  (c) otherwise disposed of in each of the last three years.

Joan Ruddock: The export of working electronic equipment does not require the authorities to be notified. This may include used appliances or working components. If considered to be working, electronic equipment is not classified as waste and can be exported without notification.
	In certain circumstances, the Environment Agency should be notified of movements of exports for recovery, depending on the waste type and destination.
	Records held by the Environment Agency relate to the export of wastes that require consent under the notification process. This would include waste described as hazardous or where receiving countries have requested notification for certain materials. For wastes classified under the European waste catalogue entry 1602 as wastes from electrical and electronic equipment, the Environment Agency records show that no such wastes were notified for export to countries outside the EU over the last three years.
	The Environment Agency also holds records of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) exports under the Accredited Exporter scheme. These are mostly waste streams from the processing of WEEE with a small amount of whole appliances. Data are only available from July 2007 onwards and do not differentiate between exports within Europe and outside Europe.
	It is illegal to export waste for disposal which includes WEEE. The Environment Agency has no estimate of the amount of WEEE that is illegally exported for disposal.

Electronic Equipment: Waste Disposal

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK companies have been fined under the transfrontier shipment of waste regulations for illegally exporting electronic waste outside the EU for disposal.

Joan Ruddock: The Environment Agency is the regulatory authority for the transfrontier shipment of waste in England and Wales. They have confirmed that one company was fined in 2006-07 for the illegal export of waste electrical and electronic equipment and two companies were fined in 2007-08.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information necessary to answer this question fully for each of the last five years is not available except at disproportionate cost. We are limited to providing the following estimates of the main species of fish supplied and the overall cost for each of the years 2005 to 2007 and the first six months of 2008.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2005  2006  2007 ( 1) 2008 
			 Haddock 45 44 35 30 
			 Tuna 20 20 18 20 
			 Salmon 25 25 22 20 
			 Trout 10 10 8 5 
			 Sea Bass 0 0 3 3 
			 Sea Bream 0 0 3 4 
			 Hake 0 0 2 4 
			 Hoki 0 1 5 9 
			 Pollock 0 0 4 5 
			  
			 Total cost (£) 12,850 14,900 15,600 8,100 
			 (1) Six months 
		
	
	More data on public sector food procurement are published on the PSFPI website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/govt-afood-usage.pdf.

Fly Tipping

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many fly-tipping incidents were reported in England in 2007-08 according to the Flycapture database; what estimate he has made of the clearance costs of such incidents; and what proportion of such incidents involved the fly-tipping of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: Data for the period 2007-08 are not yet available. Local authorities were asked to submit complete annual data by the end of June 2008. We are currently quality checking the data submitted. Full data for 2007-08 will be published as soon as possible.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years;
	(2)  from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost, but from information held centrally, it is estimated that the proportion of food supplied to DEFRA from UK sources since 2005 is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage  Value (£) 
			 2005 65 629,244 
			 2006 74 643,208 
			 2007 85 606,606 
			 2008(1) 85 250,130 
			 (1) Six months. 
		
	
	I refer the hon. Member to the report published on the Public Sector Food Procurement Initiative website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/policy/sustain/procurement/pdf/gov-food-usage.pdf
	DEFRA again proposes to publish data by the end of 2008 on the proportion of domestically produced food purchased by Departments.

Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to develop a comprehensive food policy; and if he will include in the policy measures to reduce  (a) food waste and  (b) food miles.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	As set out in the Cabinet Office's recent report on food "Food Matters", DEFRA, working with the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency will launch a process of engagement with stakeholders across the food chain to develop a vision for a sustainable food system. The vision will define the Government's priorities and purpose across the food system and will consider issues such as food waste and sourcing alongside issues of nutrition and the environmental impacts of food consumption and production.
	The Cabinet Office's report also sets out how DEFRA will work with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) and the food industry to reduce food waste both in the food supply chain and in the home.

Green Belt

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations Natural England has made to his Department on Green Belt (i) designation and (ii) protection.

Jonathan R Shaw: Natural England has made no recent representations to DEFRA relating to green belt designation or protection. Natural England's policy on housing growth ("Housing Growth and Green Infrastructure, June 2008") sets out its views on green belt.

Housing: Low Incomes

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government on  (a) increasing the availability of affordable housing in the Peak District National Park Authority area and  (b) future funding for the provision of rural housing enablers; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member for Macclesfield to the answer given in response to the same question that he asked the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on 10 July 2008, Official Report, columns 1742-43W.

Insulation: Pollution

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the rate of natural leakage of ozone-depleting substances from plastic foam insulation.

Phil Woolas: The estimated emission rates from foam insulation in buildings and appliances have been documented by the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel of the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.
	Although the annual emission rates vary by product type, they are typically very low. This is particularly the case from insulation foams and is because of their closed cell structure. This understanding has been substantiated by measurements made on aged refrigerators containing chlorofluorocarbons.

Joint Waste Authorities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what circumstances a local authority which joins a Joint Waste Authority (JWA) will be permitted to leave the JWA unilaterally.

Joan Ruddock: Joint waste authorities (JWAs) will be statutory bodies, established by Order. A local authority will not be able to leave a JWA unilaterally. JWAs can only be dissolved where all the constituent authorities agree to do so or where the Secretary of State considers it is necessary to do so. This will give them a structural stability that should appeal to the waste management industry and to potential investors.

Metals: Exports

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to reduce the amount of scrap metal exported from the UK; what discussions he has had with colleagues from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on this matter; and if he will meet representatives of industry to discuss the issue.

Joan Ruddock: Scrap metals are a valuable globally traded commodity and are exported to countries where there is demand. Many of the products we use are manufactured in Asia and it is environmentally beneficial to export our recyclables to markets where they will replace use of virgin material. Exports of waste from the UK must be in compliance with the requirements of the EC Waste Shipments Regulation which helps to ensure that strict environmental criteria are met and that exported metals are reprocessed in conditions that are considered broadly equivalent to those in force in the EU.
	I am in regular contact with both colleagues from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and representatives from across industry on matters relating to the metals sector.

Microgeneration: Noise

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reason the permitted noise level from domestic microgeneration equipment has been set at a level five decibels higher than that proposed in the consultation document.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	My written statement of 13 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 20-21WS, announced that secondary legislation had been laid before the House that would remove the need to apply for planning permission to install certain types of householder microgeneration. These permitted development rights now apply to solar, ground and water source heat pump, combined heat and power and biomass technologies.
	The statement explained that good progress was being made in trying to resolve the issue of noise that prevented permitted development rights being extended to wind turbines and air source heat pumps at that time. It also indicated that a restriction would be imposed to ensure that habitable rooms of any neighbouring residential property are not exposed to an outside noise level exceeding 45 decibels. This figure seeks to balance the Government's desire to encourage the take-up of microgeneration with the need to consider the potential impact on others. We have not yet concluded work on this issue and therefore permitted development rights do not currently apply to these technologies.

Nappies: Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Environment Agency's research report, WR0705-Updated Lifecycle Study on Reusable and Disposable Nappies.

Joan Ruddock: The Lifecycle study on re-useable and disposable nappies is due to be published in August. We will launch the publication and arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

Noise

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish a noise strategy for England.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Basingstoke (Mrs. Miller) on 1 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 777-78W.

Noise: Pollution

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what remedies are available to people disturbed by persistent amplified noise in public places made  (a) in the cause of political protest and  (b) for other reasons; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on the prevention of disturbance to others by people persistently making amplified noise in public places without the permission of the relevant local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 15 July 2008
	Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Noise and Statutory Nuisance Act 1993, provides that noise, other than traffic noise, emitted from vehicles, machinery or equipment in a street can be a statutory nuisance, if it does, has or is likely to interfere with the quiet enjoyment of a person's land or is prejudicial to their health. Local authorities have a duty to investigate complaints about statutory nuisances, and may serve abatement notices. Failure to comply with an abatement notice can be a criminal offence.
	These provisions do not however apply to political demonstrations or a demonstration supporting or opposing a cause or campaign.
	Section 62 of the Control of Pollution Act 1974 bans the use of a loud speaker in a street at night (i.e. between 9 pm and 8 am), and restricts the use of loudspeakers for advertising at any time subject to limited exemptions.
	Section 137 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 bans the use of loudspeakers in the area around Parliament at any time and for any purpose (subject to a number of exceptions—including where consent of local authority has been granted). The Government have however announced their intention to repeal these provisions.
	There are in addition byelaws which govern the use of amplification equipment in certain areas such as Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Garden. There may be similar local byelaws in other parts of the country.

Pandas

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many giant pandas have been presented by the Government of China to the UK Government since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: Animal health records show there has been one giant panda entering the UK from China since 1979. Ming Ming arrived in 1991 on a breeding loan to London Zoo and was subsequently returned in 1994.

Pandas

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to encourage the breeding of giant pandas in English zoos; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The Government have neither encouraged nor discouraged the breeding of giant pandas in English zoos. Keeping giant pandas is a matter for individual zoos, and would be subject to strict legislative provisions including the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended), the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the EU Wildlife Trade Regulations (governing the import and export of endangered species). We are not aware that there are any giant pandas in English zoos at present.

Pandas

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Government of China on its export of giant pandas; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: There have been no recent discussions between my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment and China over the export of giant pandas. The UK Government are committed to working with other countries to promote the conservation of the world's wildlife, such as the giant panda, through our membership of agreements such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Any export of pandas from China would need to comply with CITES' provisions.

Pigs: Animal Welfare

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will meet representatives of the British pig industry to discuss the animal welfare standards adhered to by pig breeders.

Jonathan R Shaw: When the rules regarding pig welfare requirements were last revised in 2003, DEFRA conducted a full public consultation and officials met with pig industry representatives.
	If representatives of the British pig industry would like to write to me outlining their concerns on this important issue, I will be happy to respond and equally to consider any request for a meeting.

Ports: Security

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings he has had with officials and Ministers from the French Government on blockades at ports and port security.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have not held direct talks with either French officials or Ministers on recent blockades. However, the UK Government have been in close contact with national and local authorities in Spain and France, and affected UK nationals. Working through our embassy in Paris, we have expressed strong concerns to the French authorities about the difficulties caused to the UK, in particular the fishing industry, by this action. In addition the European Commission has been formally notified of the disruption under the free movement of goods regulation. I also raised this as an important issue at last month's Fisheries Council, and called on support from all member states to ensure that the trade of fish and fisheries products can continue without hindrance.
	I have also been in close contact with my colleagues in the devolved Administrations to ensure that the concerns of the whole UK fishing industry are understood and raised with the French Government.

Recycling

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average rejection rate of recycled materials at material recycling facilities was in the latest period for which figures are available; and how many tonnes of material sent for recycling were disposed of in a non-recycled manner in the latest year for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: Based on local authority responses to WasteDataFlow during 2006-07, the average reject rate reported by local authorities in England for collected municipal recyclate waste being sent to a material recycling facility was 7 per cent. With regard to material sent for recycling, but disposed of in a non-recycled manner, tonnages are not available as local authorities only have a duty to report recycling rejects up to the gate of the reprocessor, at which point it is deemed to be sent for recycling.

River Thames: Transport

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what legislation  (a) passenger and  (b) freight traffic on the River Thames is regulated; what (i) statutory instruments, (ii) departmental circulars and (iii) other documents he (A) has issued and (B) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of such legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Environment Agency is the navigation authority for the non-tidal River Thames and carries out its duties (including regulating all types of river traffic) under the Thames Conservancy Acts 1932, 1950, 1959, 1966 and 1972 and the byelaws made under them.
	The operation of passenger and other commercial river traffic within the United Kingdom is more specifically regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport) under shipping legislation, statutory instruments and other associated regulations.

Royal Agricultural Society

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Royal Agricultural Society of England on  (a) its future and  (b) the future of the Royal Show.

Jonathan R Shaw: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met with the Royal Agricultural Society of England to discuss the Society's role in promoting best practice, science and innovation in the farming industry; to see how links in these areas can be strengthened and to explore where the Society and DEFRA could work more closely together. We believe that the Royal Show continues to play an important role in the agricultural calendar. DEFRA Ministers will continue to take the valuable opportunity to engage with industry stakeholders and the public at the show.

Rural Areas: Planning

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will discuss with colleagues in the Department for Communities and Local Government means of altering planning contracts in rural areas to encourage job promotion, and in particular the development of rural business centres.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Prime Minister has asked the hon. Member for Truro and St. Austell (Matthew Taylor) to conduct a review on how land use and planning can better support rural business and deliver affordable housing. I continue to have regular discussions with the Minister for Housing on these topics and look forward to receiving the recommendations of the review.

Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a list of the sources for fly-tipping and waste placed out which informed the most recent annual Local Environment Quality Survey of England.

Joan Ruddock: The 2006-07 Local Environment Quality Survey of England Report can be found on the ENCAMS website. The report does not have information on the proportional sources of fly-tipping and waste placed out. There is general background on the sources of solid waste encountered during the survey which are defined as: General Litter, Domestic Refuse, Commercial Wastes, Animal and Other Faeces, Clinical Wastes, Putrescible Materials, Other Wastes Occurring as Litter.

Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the research commissioned by his Department and the Environment Agency from ENCAMS on fly-tipping and waste.

Joan Ruddock: I am arranging for the research document requested to be placed in the Library of the House.

Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the Low Participation Areas—Effective Communications Planning guidance published by the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Joan Ruddock: The guidance referred to is an online tool, rather than a physical, document, and cannot therefore be deposited in the Library of the House. However, it is freely available to use on the website of the Waste and Resources Action Programme.

Waste Disposal

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many civic amenity sites each waste authority in England provides.

Joan Ruddock: The table provides the numbers of household civic amenity sites the Environment Agency has permitted in England by local authority area.
	The caveat is that these figures do not include those civic amenity sites which are incorporated into other types of sites such as waste transfer sites/material recycling facilities operated by local authorities or their contractors. It is not possible to separate these data.
	
		
			  C.A. sites in England (excluding Wales) by local authority at 15 July 2008 
			  Local authority  Number of sites 
			 Adur 2 
			 Alnwick 2 
			 Arun 2 
			 Ashfield 3 
			 Ashford 3 
			 Aylesbury Vale 1 
			 Babergh 3 
			 Barnet 2 
			 Barnsley 3 
			 Barrow-in-Furness 1 
			 Basildon 1 
			 Basingstoke and Deane 1 
			 Bassetlaw 1 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 3 
			 Bedford 1 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 3 
			 Bexley 2 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 3 
			 Blackpool 1 
			 Blyth Valley 3 
			 Bolton 1 
			 Boston 1 
			 Bournemouth 1 
			 Bradford 9 
			 Braintree 2 
			 Breckland 4 
			 Brentwood 1 
			 Brighton and Hove 1 
			 Bristol, City of 4 
			 Bromley 2 
			 Bromsgrove 1 
			 Broxtowe 3 
			 Burnley 1 
			 Bury 1 
			 Calderdale 5 
			 Camden 2 
			 Cannock Chase 2 
			 Carlisle 1 
			 Castle Morpeth 4 
			 Castle Point 1 
			 Chamwood 1 
			 Chelmsford 2 
			 Cheltenham 1 
			 Cherwell 1 
			 Chester-le-Street 1 
			 Chichester 2 
			 Chorley 1 
			 Christchurch 1 
			 Colchester 2 
			 Cotswold 1 
			 Coventry 2 
			 Craven 1 
			 Crawley 1 
			 Croydon 3 
			 Dacorum 1 
			 Darlington 1 
			 Dartford 2 
			 Daventry 2 
			 Derby 1 
			 Derwentside 3 
			 Doncaster 5 
			 Dover 2 
			 Durham 4 
			 Easington 3 
			 East Cambridgeshire 1 
			 East Devon 3 
			 East Hertfordshire 3 
			 East Lindsey 3 
			 East Northamptonshire 1 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 9 
			 East Staffordshire 2 
			 Eastbourne 1 
			 Eden 1 
			 Enfield 3 
			 Epping Forest 1 
			 Epsom and Ewell 1 
			 Erewash 1 
			 Fenland 4 
			 Forest Heath 2 
			 Forest of Dean 1 
			 Fylde 2 
			 Gateshead 2 
			 Gedling 2 
			 Gloucester 1 
			 Guildford 1 
			 Hackney 1 
			 Hambleton 4 
			 Harborough 1 
			 Haringey 2 
			 Harrogate 2 
			 Harrow 1 
			 Hartlepool 2 
			 Havering 1 
			 Hillingdon 1 
			 Horsham 1 
			 Hounslow 2 
			 Huntingdonshire 5 
			 Hyndburn 1 
			 Ipswich 1 
			 Isle of Wight 1 
			 Islington 2 
			 Kennet 1 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1 
			 Kettering 1 
			 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 5 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of 1 
			 Kirklees 7 
			 Lambeth 2 
			 Lancaster 2 
			 Leeds 16 
			 Leicester 2 
			 Lewes 3 
			 Lewisham 1 
			 Lichfield 3 
			 Lincoln 2 
			 Luton 2 
			 Maldon 2 
			 Malvern Hills 5 
			 Mansfield 2 
			 Medway 3 
			 Merton 1 
			 Mid Bedfordshire 2 
			 Mid Devon 1 
			 Mid Suffolk 3 
			 Mid Sussex 2 
			 Milton Keynes 3 
			 Newark and Sherwood 3 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 5 
			 Newham 2 
			 North Devon 1 
			 North East Derbyshire 1 
			 North East Lincolnshire 3 
			 North Hertfordshire 2 
			 North Kesteven 1 
			 North Lincolnshire 7 
			 North Norfolk 1 
			 North Shropshire 1 
			 North Somerset 2 
			 North Tyneside 1 
			 North Wiltshire 1 
			 Northampton 2 
			 Nottingham 1 
			 Oadby and Wigston 1 
			 Oldham 2 
			 Oswestry 2 
			 Oxford 2 
			 Pendle 2 
			 Penwith 1 
			 Peterborough 1 
			 Plymouth 1 
			 Poole 2 
			 Preston 1 
			 Redbridge 2 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 3 
			 Redditch 1 
			 Reigate and Banstead 1 
			 Restormel 1 
			 Ribble Valley 1 
			 Richmondshire 1 
			 Rochdale 2 
			 Rochford 1 
			 Rother 2 
			 Rotherham 3 
			 Rushcliffe 2 
			 Rutland 1 
			 Ryedale 7 
			 Salisbury 3 
			 Sandwell 2 
			 Scarborough 5 
			 Sedgefield 2 
			 Sedgemoor 1 
			 Selby 4 
			 Sevenoaks 2 
			 Sheffield 6 
			 Shepway 1 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 1 
			 Slough 1 
			 Solihull 1 
			 South Bedfordshire 1 
			 South Cambridgeshire 2 
			 South Derbyshire 2 
			 South Gloucestershire 3 
			 South Holland 1 
			 South Kesteven 3 
			 South Lakeland 1 
			 South Northamptonshire 1 
			 South Ribble 1 
			 South Shropshire 1 
			 South Somerset 1 
			 South Staffordshire 2 
			 South Tyneside 2 
			 Southend-on-Sea 2 
			 St. Edmundsbury 4 
			 Stafford 2 
			 Staffordshire Moorlands 4 
			 Stratford-on-Avon 5 
			 Stroud 1 
			 Suffolk Coastal 4 
			 Sunderland 3 
			 Swale 1 
			 Tameside 1 
			 Tandridge 1 
			 Taunton Deane 2 
			 Teesdale 2 
			 Telford and Wrekin 4 
			 Tendring 5 
			 Tewkesbury 1 
			 Thurrock 1 
			 Torridge 1 
			 Tower Hamlets 1 
			 Tunbridge Wells 1 
			 Tynedale 8 
			 Uttlesford 1 
			 Vale of White Horse 2 
			 Vale Royal 2 
			 Wakefield 7 
			 Walsall 1 
			 Waltham Forest 5 
			 Wansbeck 2 
			 Watford 2 
			 Waveney 3 
			 Wealden 5 
			 Wear Valley 4 
			 Wellingborough 2 
			 West Devon 1 
			 West Dorset 1 
			 West Lancashire 3 
			 West Lindsey 1 
			 Westminster 1 
			 Weymouth and Portland 1 
			 Wigan 4 
			 Wolverhampton 2 
			 Worcester 3 
			 Worthing 1 
			 Wychavon 2 
			 Wyre 2 
			 Wyre Forest 2 
			 York 2 
			 Total 520

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action Programme has provided to waste collection authorities on the use of fixed penalty fines against households who put their rubbish out for collection the evening before the day of collection;
	(2)  what advice  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action Programme has provided to waste collection authorities on fining households who put the wrong items into their recycling boxes; and under what statutory provisions waste collection authorities issue fixed penalty notices for such activities;
	(3)  what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the Waste and Resources Action Programme has provided to waste collection authorities on using private companies to issue waste penalty notices.

Joan Ruddock: Under section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (EPA), local authorities can issue residents with a notice specifying requirements as to the collection of household waste receptacles. These requirements may include the specifics of how and when to present the receptacles for collection, or the articles which must be placed in the receptacles. It is an offence for somebody to fail to comply with these requirements.
	Section 47ZA of the EPA allows local authorities to issue fixed penalty notices for offences under section 46. These fixed penalty notices can be issued by the following people:
	(a) an employee of the authority who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of giving notices;
	(b) any person who, in pursuance of arrangements made with the authority, has the function of giving such notices and is authorised in writing by the authority to perform that function; and
	(c) any employee of such a person who is authorised in writing by the authority for the purposes of giving such notices.
	DEFRA's guidance on fixed penalty notices explains that where local authorities authorise contractors to carry out enforcement activities, they should ensure that background checks are carried out to determine their suitability and capability. It is important that contractors receive adequate training and have a full understanding of any locally set procedures or policies before they begin to issue fixed penalties. The published guidance can be found on the DEFRA website.
	The Flycapture Enforcement Course also includes a module on the issuing of fixed penalty notices for waste offences.
	The Waste and Resources Action Programme has not issued any guidance in this regard.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what powers waste collection authorities have to charge  (a) domestic households and  (b) waste producers classified by schedule 2 of the controlled Waste Regulations 1992 for recycling collections.

Joan Ruddock: A waste collection authority is entitled to charge for the collection of waste from all schedule 2 sources. Whether or not the authority recycles the material collected is a matter for the authority.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what penalties may be imposed on householders for non-payment of charges for the delivery of waste receptacles.

Joan Ruddock: Section 46(1) allows the waste collection authority to specify the type and number of receptacles to be used for waste collection.
	When making a requirement under section 46(1), section 46(3) allows the authority to either:
	(a) determine that receptacles be provided by the authority free of charge;
	(b) propose that receptacles be provided by the authority on payment, either singly or periodically, by the occupier, provided the occupier agrees;
	(c) require the occupier to provide them if he does not enter into an agreement under paragraph (b); or
	(d) require the occupier to provide them.
	There are no penalties an authority can impose for non-payment of charges for the delivery of waste receptacles. However, non-payment can be pursued as a civil debt.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether householders resident in areas serviced by a waste collection authority which charges for the provision of waste receptacles are permitted to provide their own waste receptacles.

Joan Ruddock: Section 46(1) allows the waste collection authority to specify the type and number of receptacles to be used for waste collection.
	When making a requirement under section 46(1), section 46(3) allows the authority to either:
	(a) determine that receptacles be provided by the authority free of charge;
	(b) propose that receptacles be provided by the authority on payment, either singly or periodically, by the occupier, provided the occupier agrees;
	(c) require the occupier to provide them if he does not enter into an agreement under paragraph (b); or
	(d) require the occupier to provide them.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many local authorities have expressed an interest in levying charges for the collection of household waste; and how many such expressions were made by  (a) elected councillors and  (b) council staff.

Joan Ruddock: No authorities have yet come forward to formally express an interest in participating in a pilot waste incentive scheme. I wrote to local authorities on 20 June inviting them to come forward, with a deadline for submitting final proposals to run pilots of eight weeks after Royal Assent to the Climate Change Bill. I noted in that letter that we will release the names of any authorities which come forward with formal expressions of interest at that time.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the maximum penalty is that may be levied against a household for non-payment of charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Joan Ruddock: A waste collection authority may only charge for collection of those materials that are covered by schedule 2 of the controlled waste regulations (CWR). It is up to the authority to decide whether it recovers the charge before, during or after it provides the service. An authority would be free to use the usual methods it employs for debt recovery in those cases where a householder had refused to pay. There is no provision in the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to penalise households that refuse to pay for waste collected under schedule 2 of the CWR.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the pilots for the new charges for the collection of household rubbish to begin.

Joan Ruddock: As I explained to the CLG Select Committee in December during its evidence session on local government finance (waste), and subsequently, we would not anticipate pilot waste incentive schemes beginning before April 2009.
	It will be for local authorities wishing to run pilots to come forward with proposals for when schemes could begin in their areas. I wrote to local authorities on 20 June inviting them to come forward, with a deadline for submitting final proposals to run pilots of eight weeks after Royal Assent to the Climate Change Bill.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the gross costs to  (a) his Department and  (b) participating local authorities of the pilots for the new charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Joan Ruddock: As explained in my written statement to Parliament on 15 November 2007, and subsequently, the Department has up to £1.5 million per year for the next three years to help support pilot waste incentive schemes.
	The impact assessment of powers to pilot incentives, also published on DEFRA's website on 15 November 2007, estimates costs and savings for local authorities piloting a waste incentive scheme. One-off start-up costs for a 50,000 household scheme are estimated at £100,000 to £200,000, annual running costs at £200,000 to £500,000. Savings accruing to local authorities for a 50,000 household scheme (from having less waste to collect, treat and dispose of) are estimated at £290,000 to £1.4 million per annum.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long the pilot schemes for the new charges for the collection of household rubbish are expected to last.

Joan Ruddock: It will be for local authorities wishing to run a pilot waste incentive scheme to propose how long the scheme should run for in their, area. However, pilot schemes will need to run for long enough to provide high quality, robust evidence for the report back to Parliament.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department has spent to date on  (a) planning,  (b) piloting,  (c) consultancy,  (d) publicity and  (e) research into (i) variable charging for the collection of household waste and (ii) proposed charging schemes for the collection of household waste.

Joan Ruddock: My Department funded a research project carried out by Eunomia Research and Consulting, entitled "Modelling the Impact of Household Charging for Waste in England", at a cost of £41,614.83. This report was published on DEFRA's website in May 2007.
	My Department also purchased data on the distributional impacts of waste charging in Flanders, at a cost of £2,166.40. These were used to inform the Impact Assessment of powers to pilot local authority incentives for household waste minimisation and recycling. The Impact Assessment was published on 15 November 2007 and is also available from DEFRA's website.
	My Department employs 0.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) Grade 7, 1 FTE HEO(D) and 0.75 FTE AO to work on the Government's proposals for waste incentive pilot schemes.

Water: Fees and Charges

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the independent review of water charges and tariffs announced in the Future Water Strategy will commence; who will lead the review; what the review's terms of reference will be; and when the review is planned to report.

Phil Woolas: We will be making an announcement about the review shortly.

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to reply to question 206802, tabled by the hon. Member for Havant on 25 May 2008, on apprenticeships in his Department.

Jonathan R Shaw: I replied to the hon. Member on 9 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1585W.

PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much sick pay to staff in his office cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office my hon. Friend the Member for West Bromwich, East, (Mr. Watson) on 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1571W.

Intelligence Services

John Baron: To ask the Prime Minister what reports he has made to the Cabinet Secretary to ensure that any intelligence material put in the public domain should be properly verified and validated; when he made the request; and if he will place a record of the request in the public domain.

Gordon Brown: I refer the hon. Member to the conclusions within the 'Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction' (HC 898), the oral statement made by my predecessor (Mr. Blair) on 14 July 2004,  Official Report, column 1431, and the Government's response the 'Review of Intelligence on Weapons of Mass Destruction: Implementation of its Conclusions' (Cm 6492).

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Arm's Length Management Organisation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) arm's length management organisations (ALMOs) there are; and how many houses each ALMO manages.

Iain Wright: There are 70 arm's length management organisations (ALMOs). The following table lists the ALMOs and the dwellings they manage.
	
		
			  Local authorities with ALMOs  Dwellings managed by ALMOs( 1) 
			 Ashfield 7,100 
			 Barnet 11,100 
			 Barnsley 19,800 
			 Basildon 11,500 
			 Bassetlaw 7,000 
			 Blackpool 5,400 
			 Blyth Valley 6,800 
			 Bolton 18,400 
			 Brent 9,600 
			 Bury 8,400 
			 Carrick 3,700 
			 Charnwood 5,900 
			 Cheltenham 4,700 
			 Colchester 6,300 
			 Derby 13,800 
			 Doncaster 21,200 
			 Ealing 13,800 
			 Easington 8,800 
			 Eastbourne 3,800 
			 Enfield 11,900 
			 Gateshead 21,800 
			 Gloucester 4,500 
			 Hackney(2) 23,000 
			 Hammersmith 13,200 
			 Haringey 16,600 
			 Havering 11,000 
			 High Peak 4,100 
			 Hillingdon 10,700 
			 Hounslow 13,600 
			 Islington(2) 21,500 
			 Kensington 6,900 
			 Kirklees 23,700 
			 Lambeth(2, 3) 24,500 
			 Leeds(3) 58,600 
			 Lewisham(2) 14,300 
			 Manchester(2) 12,500 
			 N. E. Derbyshire 8,300 
			 Newark 5,500 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 30,500 
			 Newham 17,600 
			 Nottingham 29,600 
			 Oldham 12,800 
			 Poole 4,600 
			 Redbridge 4,700 
			 Rochdale 14,200 
			 Rotherham 21,300 
			 Sandwell 29,600 
			 Salford(2, 3) 10,500 
			 Sedgemoor 4,100 
			 Sheffield 44,800 
			 Slough 6,600 
			 Solihull 11,000 
			 South Lakeland 3,200 
			 South Tyneside 18,600 
			 Southend-on-Sea 6,200 
			 Stevenage 8,300 
			 Stockport 11,600 
			 Stockton 11,000 
			 Sutton 7,300 
			 Tower Hamlets 13,800 
			 Waltham Forest 10,600 
			 Warrington 8,900 
			 Wear Valley 4,400 
			 Westminster 12,300 
			 Wigan 23,100 
			 Wolverhampton 24,000 
			 (1) These dwelling numbers are rounded figures based on stock numbers reported by local authorities for HRA subsidy purposes on the 1 April 2007. (2) These figures were recently supplied by the local authority. (3) These authorities have more than one ALMO in their area.

Arm's Length Management Organisation

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what regard a local authority must have to views of tenants before termination of an arm's length management organisation; and what duty there is on an authority to consult with tenants before termination.

Iain Wright: Should a local authority consider winding up its arm's length management organisation (ALMO), it should take account of the views of all stakeholders, but most importantly the tenants whose homes are managed by the ALMO. Departmental guidance states that a local authority should consult its tenants on any significant changes to its housing management arrangements. That consultation should be no less rigorous than that undertaken to establish support for the establishment of the ALMO.

Arm's Length Management Organisation

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she issues to local authorities on the termination of arm's length management organisations, with particular reference to the demonstration of the benefits of termination to tenants.

Iain Wright: The Department updated the general guidance issued to local authorities on ALMOs within the Review of Arms Length Housing Management Organisations June 2006. This included guidance on consulting tenants should there be significant changes proposed to a local authority's housing management arrangements.
	The document does not refer specifically to the demonstration to tenants of the benefits of winding up an ALMO. However, the Department believes that existing ALMO arrangements should remain in place unless an alternative can be shown to have demonstrable benefits for tenants.

Arm's Length Management Organisation

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether Decent Homes funding allocated to an arm's length management organisation is automatically switched to an alternative housing manager in the event of its termination.

Iain Wright: Funding allocated to an arm's length management organisation (ALMO) would not be switched to an alternative housing manager in the event of an ALMO being wound up. The funding is contingent on the ALMO delivering a Decent Homes investment programme on behalf of its local authority.

Batteries: Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities offer recycling facilities for  (a) batteries,  (b) light bulbs and  (c) energy-saving light bulbs.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not gather statistics on which local authorities collect specific products for recycling. All local authorities in England are providing collection facilities for waste electrical and electronic equipment which includes the most common type of energy saving light bulbs. We are preparing regulations to implement the EU batteries directive which requires greatly increased collection of portable batterieswe are in discussion with local authorities about the part they can play in achieving our targets. Information on the recycling facilities that are available in particular areas can be found on the Recycle Now and Recycle More websites.

Carbon Emissions: Buildings

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate she has made of the average building carbon dioxide emission per square metre of floor area in each year since 2004;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the average building carbon dioxide emission per square metre of floor area for  (a) schools,  (b) other public sector buildings,  (c) commercial and industrial buildings and  (d) retail buildings in each year since 2004;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the average annual dwelling's carbon dioxide emission per square metre of floor area in each year since 2004;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the average building energy use per square metre of floor area in each year since 2004;
	(5)  what estimate she has made of the average non-domestic building energy use per square metre of floor area for  (a) schools,  (b) other public sector buildings,  (c) commercial and industrial buildings and  (d) retail buildings in each year since 2004;
	(6)  what estimate she has made of the average dwelling energy use per square metre of floor area, in each year since 2004.

Iain Wright: The Department does not hold or make estimates of the average carbon dioxide emissions or energy use from buildings in the form requested. However, the Department's report Monitoring the Sustainability of Buildings, published in 2007, provides a comparison of figures on average energy use and annual carbon emissions per square metre for domestic and non-domestic buildings in 2004 and 2006. This can be viewed on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningand building/pdf/381414.pdf
	Further data are currently being compiled for the next report on this subject which will be published in 2009.

Central-Local Partnership

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  on what dates the Central-Local Partnership has met since December 2007; and what arrangements have been made for regular meetings;
	(2)  what arrangements she has made for monitoring the operation of the central-local concordat.

John Healey: Over the past year, there have been a number of meetings between Government Ministers and Local Government Association Group Leaders on different topics, under the umbrella of the Central-Local Partnership. We are currently considering the future role and terms of reference of the Central-Local Partnership. One of the roles of a renewed Central-Local Partnership is to monitor the operation of the Central-Local Concordat, and to revise it for the future as necessary.

Community Development: Wales

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether voluntary organisations and other third sector bodies in Wales will have access to the Empowerment Fund announced at page 3 of the White Paper, Communities in Control, Cm 7427.

John Healey: Our consultation document, The Empowerment Fund: Consultation on proposals for funding third sector organisations to empower communities across England, published on the Department's website on 9 July 2008, sets out proposed eligibility criteria for access to the fund. Under those criteria eligible organisations must both be able to operate across England and be undertaking activities largely for beneficiaries within England.

Council Housing

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people have been registered as council tenants in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: Information specifically on the number of people registered as council tenants is not available. However information is available on local authority dwelling stock. This information at constituency level is not held centrally.
	Jarrow parliamentary constituency falls into two local authorities: South Tyneside and Gateshead.
	Information on the number of dwellings owned by local authorities in Jarrow constituency, South Tyneside, the North East and England for 1997 to 2007 is given in the following table.
	
		
			   Gateshead  South Tyneside  North East  England 
			 1997 154,084 24,199 297,541 3,400,635 
			 1998 150,845 23,913 292,031 3,309,244 
			 1999 147,793 23,501 286,355 3,177,507 
			 2000 144,188 23,089 276,290 3,011,995 
			 2001 104,327 22,731 233,241 2,811,931 
			 2002 101,407 22,184 226,593 2,706,036 
			 2003 97,963 21,499 207,311 2,456,917 
			 2004 93,499 20,228 189,679 2,334,631 
			 2005 90,049 19,413 169,761 2,165,526 
			 2006 88,168 18,910 165,141 2,087,456 
			 2007 86,862 18,595 165,141 1,987,343 
			  Note:  As reported by local authorities.  Source:  Communities and Local Government Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix return (HSSA) 
		
	
	Information on dwelling stock owned by local authorities for 1997 to 2007 broken down by Government Office Region and local authority is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 116 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/140882.xls
	Copies of these tables have been placed in the Library.

Council Tax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans are under consideration by her Department for the reform of council tax.

John Healey: The Government support the conclusions of Sir Michael Lyons' independent inquiry, that council tax as a property based tax is broadly sound and should be retained. However we keep the detail of council tax administration continually under review. We are currently considering the feasibility of enabling local authorities to transfer the enforcement of council tax debts from magistrates courts to county courts in appropriate cases.

Council Tax: Empty Property

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the Government's policy is on the application of council tax to empty industrial and commercial properties.

John Healey: Council tax is not payable on industrial and commercial properties and I therefore assume in answering this question that the hon. Member is referring to business rates.
	From 1 April 2008 the rating arrangements for empty non-domestic properties were changed such that, in the majority of cases, empty properties are now liable for 100 per cent. of the occupied rate following a three-month exemption period (six months for industrial properties such as factories and warehouses).

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on her plans to reform council tax bands; what steps she plans to take on such reform in the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: We have no such plans. The Government have made it clear that any reform to the council tax banding system would only take place in the context of a general revaluation which we confirmed in September 2005 will not take place during the lifetime of this Parliament.

Council Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many and what proportion of properties there were in each band in each council tax collection authority in England on 1 April 2008.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Barnsley, East and Mexborough (Jeff Ennis) on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1390W.

Departmental Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on how many occasions her Department and its predecessors instructed the Treasury Solicitor to seek leave to appeal to the House of Lords from  (a) the Court of Appeal and  (b) the House of Lords itself in each of the last 10 years; and on how many occasions the application was rejected.

Parmjit Dhanda: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what account her Department takes of the level of energy efficiency of buildings before entering into agreements to  (a) rent and  (b) purchase those buildings.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department's sustainable operations policy states that:
	we will ensure all new builds, office relocations and major refurbishments achieve an overall BREEAM Excellent rating and specifically an Excellent rating in the areas of energy and water, unless site constraints or project objectives mean that this requirement conflicts with the obligation to achieve value for money on a whole life basis. Where site constraints or project objectives conflict with this requirement, a project should at least achieve an overall BREEAM rating of Very Good and an Excellent rating in the areas of energy and water.
	An Excellent rating in the Energy section of the BREEAM for Offices 2008 version requires significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions compared to those stipulated in the existing building regulations and assesses a building's performance against sub-metering, external lighting, lifts and low or zero carbon technologies.

Departmental Compensation

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the 10 highest payments made by her Department were under property compensation cases brought against it over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of the cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by her Department; and what the nature of each incident was.

Parmjit Dhanda: No compensation cases relating to land and property were brought against Communities and Local Government during the past 12 months.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  which make and model of car the Minister for Housing has chosen as her ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency;
	(2)  which make and model of car she has chosen as her ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Under-Secretary of State for Transport my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar and Canning Town (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in her Department in each of the last 10 years.

Parmjit Dhanda: Centrally held records of the amount claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in this Department are available for the previous five financial years, and are as follows. Information for earlier years would incur a disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   Amount () 
			 2003-04 174.70 
			 2004-05 0 
			 2005-06 3,765.10 
			 2006-07 1,952.88 
			 2007-08 1,494.92 
		
	
	Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the Department's staff handbook, and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. The code can be viewed at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp

Derelict Land

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the effects on her programme to develop brownfield land of the loss in value of land banks acquired by commercial house builders.

Iain Wright: Neither the Barker Review of Housing Supply nor the Callcutt Review of Housebuilding Delivery found evidence to show that landbanking is a significant problem affecting housing supply. These conclusions are supported by the recent publication of draft research commissioned by Office of Fair Trading as part of their ongoing market study of the homebuilding industry, the final report of which is due to be published later this year.
	Therefore, while we continue to monitor the housing market closely, we do not consider it necessary to make a specific assessment of any impact that loss in value of housebuilders' landbanks may have on the development of brownfield land. However, we would expect commercial housebuilders to continue to assess the viability of individual brownfield sites when considering the timing of commencing redevelopment schemes.

Economic Partnership Agreements: Dorset

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she will respond to the application by the Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole economic partnership to run a pilot multi-area agreement.

John Healey: A multi-area agreement with Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole was signed on 14 July 2008, along with six other agreements. This fulfils a major commitment in the Sub-National Review of Economic Development and Regeneration. These agreements will lead to significant benefits and improved outcomes in the economies of the seven sub-regions.

Emergency Services: Gloucestershire

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  on what date the Tri-service centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire was opened; what the cost was of construction and other associated costs; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  what the running costs of the Tri-service centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire have been since its opening; what share of that cost is allocated to each of the emergency services using it; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate she has made of the cost of transferring the control of the fire service from the Tri-service centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire; whether these costs include money owing through any contractual obligations; how long she estimates that transfer will take; and if she will make a statement;
	(4)  if she will make a statement on the future use of the Tri-service centre at Quedgeley, Gloucestershire.

John Healey: The Gloucestershire tri-service centre was officially opened in May 2003. The Government awarded 2.6 million to develop the pilot scheme through the 'Invest to Save' budget.
	Quedgeley was one of three tri-service pilot schemes in England. In each case, the Government have committed to meeting the specific costs of withdrawing the control room elements from these arrangements, including withdrawal from contractual commitments. A payment of 1,069,142 has been agreed with Gloucestershire to cover these costs.
	Details on the centre's running costs and local financial arrangements are matters for the local police, fire and ambulance services. Gloucestershire FRS is also free to decide what other functions it keeps ator locates tothe tri-service centre.
	Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service is due to move the control room element to the regional control centre in November 2010.
	Gloucestershire, like all fire and rescue authorities, receives new burdens funding for the work involved in preparing to move to the regional control centre. Over the comprehensive spending review period (FY 2008-09 to 2010-11) Gloucestershire FRS will get implementation funding of 167,249 directly and have access to their share of south-west implementation funding of 1.8 million.

European Charter of Regional Self-Government

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1356W, on the European Charter of Regional Self-Government, when she expects the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers will meet to consider its response.

John Healey: I understand that the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers is seeking possible comments from the relevant intergovernmental committee. Those comments are not expected before the end of 2008, after which the Committee of Ministers will respond to the Congress Recommendation.

Fire Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which fire services  (a) own and  (b) operate a helicopter.

Parmjit Dhanda: None of the fire and rescue services in England owns its own helicopter. Responsibility for fire and rescue services in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland has been devolved.
	A number of fire and rescue authorities (FRAs) in England participate in schemes utilising helicopters owned by other organisations, such as the private sector, the police, the ambulance service, HM Coastguard and the armed forces, for a range of operations, including fighting grassland, moorland and forestry fires, undertaking search and rescue, reaching inaccessible areas or grid-locked roads, and transporting equipment.
	Information on which individual FRAs participate in such schemes is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fire Services

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what research she has commissioned into the effectiveness of fire service helicopters in  (a) urban and  (b) rural areas.

Parmjit Dhanda: No research has been commissioned by Communities and Local Government into the effectiveness of the use of helicopters by the Fire and Rescue Service.
	The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) held a conference on Air Support in the Fire and Rescue Service on 8 May, which I attended, and in the light of those and other discussions CFOA is currently drawing up a business case for a national system of air support which will include proposals for the use of helicopters in both urban and rural areas.

Flats

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of new build dwellings were flats in each year since 1996-97.

Iain Wright: The following table shows estimates of the proportion of new build dwellings in England that were flats in each year since 1996-97.
	
		
			   Percentage of new build dwellings that were flats 
			 1996-97 16 
			 1997-98 15 
			 1998-99 16 
			 1999-2000 17 
			 2000-01 20 
			 2001-02 23 
			 2002-03 27 
			 2003-04 34 
			 2004-05 41 
			 2005-06 46 
			 2006-07 47 
			 2007-08 48 
			  Source: P2/P2a house building returns from local authorities and National House Building Council on new build completions.

Floods: Hull

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 10 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 140-1W, on floods: Hull, what Bellwin payments were made to recipients in  (a) Gloucestershire and  (b) Hull as a result of the 2007 floods, broken down by recipient;

John Healey: The following authorities received payments under the Bellwin Scheme operated by the Department for Communities and Local Government as a result of the 2007 floods:
	 Gloucestershire
	Cotswold district council was paid 87,432 on 18 February 2008. Cheltenham borough council was paid 48,361,000 on 9 April 2008 and 20,638 on 10 July 2008. Gloucester city council was paid 114,000 on 20 December 2007, 46,995,000 on 26 February 2008 and 28,366 on 12 March 2008. Gloucestershire county council was paid 1,100,000 on 18 December 2007, 1,454,384 on 26 March 2008 and 253,260 on 9 April 2008. Gloucestershire Police Authority was paid 955,420 on 8 February 2008. Stroud district council was paid 8,673 on 25 February 2008. Tewkesbury borough council was paid 351,073 on 12 March 2008.
	 Hull
	Humberside Fire and Rescue was paid 167,935 on 24 December 2007. Kingston upon Hull city council was paid 1,800,693 on 18 February 2008 and 297,124 on 7 May .

Floods: Insurance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with insurers on areas adversely affected by the 2007 floods.

John Healey: As Minister for Flood Recovery, I have met the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and representatives of their members on a number of occasions since last summer's floods. Most recently, on 18 June, I addressed the ABI's conference '2007 Floods: One Year On'.

Homelessness

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many capital grants her Department has awarded under the Places of Change Programme.

Iain Wright: Capital grants from the 80 million Places of Change Programme have been allocated to 80 projects in 54 local authority areas across England.
	Through this programme hostels and homelessness services will cease to be places of last resort, but instead become centres of excellence and choice which positively changes lives. They will provide good services so that people can access education, training and employment and move on to independent living in a settled home.
	The Places of Change Programme builds upon the success of the 90 million Hostels Capital Improvement Programme which funded 178 projects in 62 local authority areas.

Homelessness: Greater London

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of homeless people in London in each of the last five years; what measures she plans to take to reduce the number of people who are homeless in London; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: holding answer 15 July 2008
	Tackling homelessness is a key priority for this Government. We work closely with local authorities and voluntary sector organisations to drive forward our homelessness agenda. We have allocated over 75 million to local authorities and voluntary organisations in London over the next three years to tackle homelessnessthe biggest ever cash injection for homelessness services. In addition, a further 19 million has been allocated to local authorities through our Places of Change programme to work in partnership with voluntary organisations to build on the success of improving hostels and day centres.
	Homelessness prevention measures funded by Communities and Local Government have had a major impact. In the last five years we have more than halved the number of homeless households in priority need accepted by London authorities; we are now making serious inroads into the backlog of households in temporary accommodation, and we are maintaining levels of rough sleeping at historical low levels.
	In April, we published a discussion paper Rough Sleeping 10 Years On: From the streets to independent living and opportunity which set out our initial thinking on updating the Government's rough sleeping strategy this autumn. We have received a good response to the discussion paper, and are now analysing responses.
	The following table summarises data for London in the last five years on  (a) homeless households in priority need accepted by authorities,  (b) households in temporary accommodation and  (c) rough sleeping estimates.
	 Summary table
	
		
			  Homeless households in priority need accepted by local authorities, London 
			   Number of households 
			 2003-04 30,080 
			 2004-05 26,730 
			 2005-06 21,140 
			 2006-07 15,390 
			 2007-08(1) 13,800 
			 (1) Provisional.  Source:  CLG PIE data. 
		
	
	
		
			  Households in temporary accommodation arranged by local authorities under the  homelessness provisions of the 1985 and 1996 Housing Acts, London, at the end of  each quarter 
			   Number of households 
			  2003  
			 Quarter 1 52,690 
			 Quarter 2 54,260 
			 Quarter 3 56,010 
			 Quarter 4 56,950 
			   
			  2004  
			 Quarter 1 58,820 
			 Quarter 2 60,030 
			 Quarter 3 61,000 
			 Quarter 4 61,670 
			   
			  2005  
			 Quarter 1 61,990 
			 Quarter 2 62,640 
			 Quarter 3 63,120 
			 Quarter 4 63,800 
			   
			  2006  
			 Quarter 1 62,740 
			 Quarter 2 62,020 
			 Quarter 3 62,190 
			 Quarter 4 60,960 
			   
			  2007  
			 Quarter 1 59,810 
			 Quarter 2(1) 59,130 
			 Quarter 3 57,820 
			 Quarter 4 56,740 
			   
			  2008  
			 Quarter 1(1) 55,500 
			 (1) Provisional 
		
	
	
		
			  Number of rough sleepers (persons) London, 1998 to 2007 (mid-year estimates)( 1) 
			   London 
			 1998 (Baseline) 621 
			 2003 267 
			 2004 265 
			 2005 221 
			 2006 267 
			 2007 248 
			 (1 )Estimates based on a combination of recent street counts in those areas where there is a known or suspected rough sleeping problem and of estimates made by local authorities, as reported on their HSSA returns to CLG in June of each year.

Homelessness: Northampton

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration her Department has given to the conversion of Robinson House, Northampton under the Places of Change programme.

Iain Wright: Northampton borough council have been allocated 1.42 million from the Places of Change Programme towards the reprovision of its services for rough sleepers in Robinson House. They are currently conducting an options appraisal of sites in Northampton, including Robinson House, in order to take this project forward.

Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are on social housing waiting lists in each region.

Iain Wright: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. Pickles) on 19 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1198-99W.
	Information on local authority waiting lists is collected in respect of households rather than individuals.

Housing: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new dwellings were built in Bournemouth in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: The figures requested are presented in the following table:
	
		
			   New build completions 
			 1998-99 211 
			 1999-2000 532 
			 2000-01 279 
			 2001-02 455 
			 2002-03 657 
			 2003-04 800 
			 2004-05 659 
			 2005-06 553 
			 2006-07 951 
			 2007-08 829 
			  Source: New build completions from P2 returns submitted by local authorities and National House Building Council (NHBC)

Housing: Migration

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 9 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1206W, on housing: migration, what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the proportion of projected household growth attributable to net migration in England; how many such projections have been made since 1987; and what her most recent projection is of the proportion of household growth attributable to net migration.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 23 July 2007,  Official Report, column 745W.

Housing: Overcrowding

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of families living in overcrowded conditions in each London borough in each of the last 10 years.

Iain Wright: The Survey of English Housing, using the bedroom standard, estimates the number of overcrowded households living in London over the last 10 years were:
	
		
			   Overcrowded households( 1)( ) ( T housand) 
			 1997-98 156 
			 1998-99 159 
			 1999-2000 161 
			 2000-01 166 
			 2001-02 170 
			 2002-03 172 
			 2003-04 175 
			 2004-05 189 
			 2005-06 203 
			 2006-07 203 
			 (1) Three year moving average 
		
	
	It is not possible to derive estimates at a local authority level.

Housing: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will develop policies to ensure exclusive provision to the local population of housing supply in remote rural locations; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government recognise that rural communities face particular pressures. National planning for housing policies in Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3) gives local authorities in rural areas the flexibility to determine the kind of new housing that should be built in their area. They should be proactive in identifying sufficient suitable sites that can be brought into development.
	The rural exception site policy in PPS3 allows local authorities, where practical and economically viable, to grant permission for 100 per cent. affordable housing on small sites that would not normally be released for housing. This is an important means of providing affordable housing in perpetuity to meet needs of local rural communities.
	In addition, in order to retain affordable housing for local communities in areas where replacement would be difficult, the right to acquire, under which housing association tenants may buy their rented home at a discount, does not apply in areas designated as rural, generally settlements of 3,000 or fewer inhabitants.
	In general, section 106 can be used to impose a planning obligation restricting the use of land in any specified way or requiring land to be used in any specified way. An obligation created under section 106 is not only enforceable against the person entering into it but also against any person deriving title from them. Therefore, where restricting occupancy of affordable housing to the local population is material to the granting of planning permission for a residential development, a section 106 agreement provides a means of ensuring that this occurs.

Housing: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1062-3W, on housing: standards, what estimate she has made of the cost of bringing all  (a) owner-occupied,  (b) private rented,  (c) local authority and  (d) registered social landlord housing up to code level 3 for sustainable homes.

Iain Wright: The Code for Sustainable Homes is a framework for the design and construction of sustainable new homes. Existing homes can not be assessed against the standard because some elements of the standard apply to the construction process, such as having a site waste management plan. There are also a number of sections that would be unrealistic to expect in existing homes where major renovation or re-building would be required to achieve them. There is therefore no intention of requiring existing homes to come up to Code level 3 standards.
	New homes built with public funding are required to meet Code level 3. The 2007 cost analysis in the impact assessment undertaken by Cyril Sweett concluded that the additional cost of building to Code level 3, over and above the cost of building to current building regulations standards, is around 4-8 per cent. This report, however, only took into account capital costs, excluding benefits such as reduced energy costs and added value to the property.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the potential contribution of high energy efficiency pumps for  (a) central heating,  (b) air conditioning and  (c) water boosting could make towards achieving her Department's target for zero-carbon emission housing by 2016.

Iain Wright: The Government's programme to achieve zero carbon homes by 2016 will involve a progressive tightening of the energy efficiency provisions within Part L of the Building Regulations. The first changes will be made in 2010 and we have started to review the relevant provisions. As part of this review we are considering the potential for the introduction of energy efficiency standards for pumps in domestic and non-domestic properties. Any such proposals would be the subject of formal consultation in 2009.

Lighting: Recycling

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has given to local authorities on providing recycling facilities for energy-saving light bulbs.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department has not issued specific advice to local authorities about the recycling of low energy light bulbs.
	Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLsthe most common type of energy efficient bulbs) are covered by the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive. All local authorities in England are providing designated collection facilities for WEEE. Information about which sites take back CFLs (and other types of WEEE) is available on the recycle-more website.
	Once CFLs have been collected, producers of the equipment have responsibility to fund treatment and recycling.
	The Department has published background information on CFLstheir benefits in terms of energy efficiency as well as advice on their disposal at the end of their lives. This can be found on the DEFRA website.

Local Authorities: Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities operate choice-based letting schemes that include private rented housing options; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Communities and Local Government does not generally collect information on the detailed workings of Choice Based Lettings schemes.
	Bolton, Leeds, Wychavon and the East London Letting Company (comprising Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest) are known to offer housing applicants private rented options alongside social housing in their Choice Based Lettings schemes. Other schemes may also include or be developing these options.
	Communities and local government is committed to ensuring that housing applicants have more choice over where they live. We encourage local authorities to work with private landlords so that housing applicants and tenants who are seeking a transfer have more housing options from which to choose.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have funded social enterprise under the local authority business growth incentive scheme.

John Healey: Grants to local authorities under the local authority business growth incentives (LABGI) scheme are not ring-fenced, so local authorities are able to choose how they spend any funding they receive. We do not keep records centrally of how local authorities have spent LABGI funding.

Local Government Association

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the operation of the central-local concordat; what progress she has made with the Local Government Association on the operation of the concordat; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: The Central-Local Concordat, signed in December 2007, enshrined the principle of devolution at the heart of the Government's relationship with local councils in England. It provides a point of reference for how this relationship should develop in the future.
	Since the concordat was signed significant progress has been made, including the signing of 150 local area agreements across all of England, which means that councils and their partners can concentrate their efforts on the specific needs of the local people they serve.

Local Government Finance

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes there have been to the mechanisms for the allocation of money from central government to local government since 1997-98.

John Healey: The main changes to the mechanisms for the allocation of money from central Government to local government since 1997-98 are set out in Local Government Finance Statistics England No. 18 (2008), in annexes C5 and D2, a copy of which is available in the Library of the house. The Government regularly review the mechanisms for allocating money to local government, including during periodic consultation on formula grant distribution for local government; and make changes as appropriate.

Local Government Finance

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes there have been to the measurement of deprivation for the purposes of allocation of funding from central government to local government since 1997-98.

John Healey: Local funding to tackle deprivation has been distributed in the form of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund from 2001, and the Working Neighbourhoods Fund since 2008. These allocations have used measures of deprivationthe Indices of Deprivation (ID).
	Each version of the ID has evolved to measure deprivation more accurately.
	The 2000 ID was ward based, contained 32 indicators, and covered six socio-economic domains.
	In 2004 the new Lower Super Output Area (LSOA) geography was used, a new domain was introduced (crime), and the number of indicators increased to 37.
	The ID2007 indices were an update to the ID2004, with minor changes to some of the indicators and the number of indicators increased to 38.
	More details can be found in the technical reports for each index, published on the CLG website.
	Mainstream local authority funding does not use measures of deprivation specifically to allocate funding, however distribution of formula grant to local authorities uses broad measures of the social and economic characteristics of an area. The factors used in each year since 1997-98 are set out in the Local Government Finance Report (England) for each year. These reports are approved by Parliament and copies are deposited in the Library of the House.

Local Government: Equal Pay

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities received a capitalisation direction for equal pay in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and what the (i) size of the direction and (ii) amount utilised was in each case.

John Healey: In 2006-07 35 local authorities applied to Communities and Local Government for capitalisation directions for equal pay. A full list of these authorities and the sums they received is available at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/capital/cap0607 appls.xls.
	The actual amount of capital expenditure used by individual authorities is available in their accounts.
	In 2007-08, 500 million of equal pay capitalisation directions were allocated to 46 local authorities. The capitalisation used by each authority will be published on the Department's website in September 2008.

Local Government: Gloucestershire

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to create a unitary authority for Gloucestershire.

John Healey: No Gloucestershire authority responded to our invitation in October 2006 to submit unitary proposals.

Local Government: Gloucestershire

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate she has made of the  (a) transition costs and  (b) effect on long-term costs anticipated to arise from the establishment of a unitary authority for Gloucestershire.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 794W.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent discussions she has had with local authorities on the use of funds released by the creation of unitary authorities.

John Healey: The Government, in their dealings with local authorities in restructuring areas have made it clear from the outset that they expect any savings generated from restructuring to be used to improve services or reduce council tax bills. This remains the case.

Local Government: Reorganisation

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has for a further round of local government re-organisation; and if she will make a statement.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 13 March 2008,  Official Report, column 586W. This remains the case.

London Assembly: Finance

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the running costs of the Greater London Assembly were in each year since its creation;
	(2)  what the cost of the Greater London Assembly was in 2007-08.

John Healey: The London Assembly is a constituent part of the Greater London Authority, and my Department does not keep records of the running costs of either the assembly or authority. But this information is available in the authority's corporate plan and annual accounts which can be found on its website.

McKinsey

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1250W, on departmental contracts, what the function and purpose was of the Communities' High Level Seminar supported by McKinsey.

Parmjit Dhanda: The seminar brought together senior politicians and officials from local and central government to agree what needed to be done, in localities and Whitehall, to implement the new local performance framework effectively.
	Further follow up work was also commissioned to take forward and implement a number of the key actions arising from the event in order to raise awareness of the framework with a wider audience and to ensure that the programme was on track to deliver ambitious local area agreements by June 2008.

Migration Impact Forum

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish the minutes of the Migration Impact Forum held on 21 May 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: The minutes of the fourth meeting of the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on 21 May were placed on the Department's website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/communities/racecohesionfaith/asylumandimmigration/migration-forum/mifpapers210508/
	on 17 July, having been agreed by MIF members at the fifth Forum meeting on 16 July.

Multiple Occupation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if her Department will publish  (a) the findings of the research it has commissioned into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and possible planning responses and  (b) the membership of her Department's HMO working group.

Iain Wright: The Department will publish the findings of the research it has commissioned into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and possible planning responses when the research report has been finalised.
	Ecotec Consulting presented emerging findings of their research to a range of stakeholders at a seminar on 9 April 2008. The participants included representatives of local authorities, universities and students, the National HMO lobby and landlords.
	The Government have not established a formal HMO working group but will continue to engage stakeholders in future work on this issue.

Personal Care Services: Licensing

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what provisions there are for local authorities outside London to license establishments carrying out  (a) botox treatment,  (b) dental whitening,  (c) spray tanning,  (d) ultra violet tanning,  (e) tattooing,  (f) piercing,  (g) acupuncture and  (h) electrolysis; and what plans she has to bring forward proposals for further local authority licensing of the beauty treatment sector.

Parmjit Dhanda: CLG does not have policy responsibility for licensing issues relating to these establishments.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the highest 10 payments made by her Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Communities and Local Government has settled the following four cases over the 12 months to July 2008:
	
		
			  Nature of incident   
			 Industrial disease 16,175 
			 Workplace injury 15,000 
			 Workplace injury 5,000 
			 Workplace injury 2,200 
		
	
	Liability was not contested in any of these cases. The amount of damages in each case was agreed by negotiation with the claimants' solicitors.

Places of Change Programme

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many capital grants her Department has awarded under the Places of Change programme and subsequently rescinded following local opposition.

Iain Wright: No grants from the Places of Change programme have been rescinded following local opposition since the programme commenced in April 2008. Such decisions would be taken on a case-by-case basis.
	Places of Change programme projects are subject to the planning process, which involves formal consultation with the community, when any local opposition can be taken into account.

Planning: Recreation Spaces

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will require local authorities to publish an audit of their compliance with Planning and Policy Guidance 17.

Iain Wright: We have no current plans to require local authorities to publish audits of their compliance with Planning Policy Guidance Note 17.

Regional Government

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to consult the devolved administrations on the proposed European Charter for Regional Democracy.

John Healey: The 'Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements' between the United Kingdom Government and the devolved Administrations provides that the Government will consult the devolved Administrations before deciding its position on an international matter that affects the responsibility of those Administrations. The Government followed this procedure when deciding their position on the proposed regional charter, and would do so again before taking any decision to modify its position.

Rented Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department has made of the average  (a) age of tenant and  (b) length of tenure of those living in the private rented sector in the latest period for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: Based on the 2006-07 Survey of English Housing the median age of a private rented sector tenant is estimated at 34 years.
	The median length of time spent in their current home, as reported by private sector tenants, is about 1.6 years. The time spent in their current home is, of course, less than the total time that they will have spent in this home by the time they next move.
	The median is a more useful indicator than average for both age of tenant and length of residence. A median length of residence of 1.6 years means that about half of all private sector tenants have been in their current home for less than 1.6 years.

Social Rented Housing

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people are awaiting social housing in  (a) Chorley,  (b) the rest of the North West region and  (c) England.

Iain Wright: Information on local authority waiting lists is collected in respect of households rather than individuals. Where local authorities and registered social landlords operate a common register, households registered with the RSL will be included in the data. However, registered social landlords are independent bodies and can keep their own waiting lists.
	In 2007, the number of households on the local authority housing waiting list in Chorley was 1,897, the rest of the North West region was 212,597 and in England was 1,674,421.
	Information on the number of households on local authorities' waiting lists broken down by Government office region and local authority for 1997 to 2007 is published on the Communities and Local Government website in Table 600 at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/144458.xls
	Copies of this table have been deposited in the Library.

Social Rented Housing

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average social rent is in each region for  (a) one bedroom,  (b) two bedroom,  (c) three bedroom and  (d) four bedroom properties.

Iain Wright: Average rent information is available for local authority housing and registered social landlord housing separately and is provided in table 1 and table 2 as follows. Figures for the RSL sector are based on data collected by the Housing Corporation.
	
		
			  Table 1: Average local authority rents, for one, two, three and four bedroom dwellings in each region in 2006-07 
			   per week 
			  Region  One bed  Two bed  Three bed  Four bed 
			 North East 42.00 47.51 51.78 55.44 
			 North West 45.39 51.41 56.26 61.36 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 43.64 48.04 51.81 55.11 
			 East Midlands 46.56 51.30 54.47 57.78 
			 West Midlands 47.08 52.65 59.07 64.71 
			 East 52.48 60.52 67.69 75.64 
			 London 63.48 72.86 83.18 94.92 
			 South East 55.79 64.26 72.86 78.24 
			 South West 46.86 52.95 60.73 68.10 
			 England 51.34 57.73 63.02 74.57 
			  Source: CLG Second Subsidy Claims Form (unaudited). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Average registered social lan dlord rents,  for one, two, three and four bedroom dwellings in each region in 2006-07 
			   per week 
			  Region  One bed  Two bed  Three bed  Four bed 
			 North East 50.32 55.61 59.22 62.56 
			 North West 51.66 58.01 62.49 68.71 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 47.68 54.58 58.89 70.16 
			 East Midlands 53.78 61.66 64.51 71.77 
			 West Midlands 53.88 60.19 64.09 73.53 
			 East 58.24 67.59 74.64 83.68 
			 London 70.61 81.11 91.97 102.35 
			 South East 64.75 76.09 85.08 93.95 
			 South West 56.75 65.66 72.18 79.73 
			 England 58.36 65.97 71.16 82.69 
			  Notes: 1. Figures as at 31 March 2007. 2. General needs properties only. Refers to information collected on the long form (in general this is for RSLs with stock of over 1,000 properties).  Source: Housing Corporation's Regulatory Statistical Return (RSR).

Social Rented Housing: Foreigners

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 16 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1800W, on social rented housing: foreigners, if she will break down by nationality the new general needs lettings by registered social landlords to  (a) the 1,769 foreign nationals from EEA countries and  (b) the 2,259 foreign nationals from non-EEA countries; and if she will break down the lettings by UK region.

Caroline Flint: Information on the number of new registered social landlord general needs lettings made in England during 2006-07 broken down by tenant nationality and by region can be found on the CORE website at www.core.ac.uk in table 28b of the 'CORE Annual Digest for Housing Associations 2006-07'.
	From this information it is possible to separately identify new tenants who are UK nationals and nationals of each of the A8 Eastern European accession states. It is not possible to separately identify the nationality of tenants from other European economic area countries or from any other countries as this information is not collected.

Trees

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consideration she has given to reinstating the annual condition survey for amenity trees.

Iain Wright: Funding of the condition survey of non-woodland amenity trees project undertaken by Forest Research ended in 2005. There are currently no plans to reinstate this funding.

United Nations Human Settlements Programme

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps the Government has taken to discuss the United Nations Human Settlements Programme guidelines on decentralisation and the strengthening of local authorities with local authorities; and what measures it plans to introduce to implement the best practice outlined in the guidelines.

John Healey: Local government, through the LGA, have been involved in such discussions, and an officer of the LGA joined the official from my Department who led the EU's input at the UN HABITAT Governing Council last year when the guidelines were adopted. The guidelines reflect the more rigorous European Charter of Local Self-Government, which the Government signed on 3 June 1997 and ratified on 24 April 1998, and the principles of which are reflected in the United Kingdom system of local democracy.

Waste Disposal: Finance

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of the budget of each local authority was spent on the disposal of household and commercial rubbish in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the proportions of revenue expenditure spent on waste disposal by each local authority in England in the last nine years.
	Aggregate information for England is published in editions of Local Government Financial Statistics and the information is drawn from the Communities and Local Government revenue outturn (RO) returns.
	Revenue expenditure is defined as the expenditure funded from aggregate external finance (AEF), council tax and authorities' reserves. AEF is central Government revenue funding that comprises formula grant (revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates and police grant) and specific grants inside AEF, i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services.
	Figures for 1997-98 have not been included due to complexities arising from the extensive local government reorganisation which took place around that time.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid due to changing local authority responsibilities.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

10 Downing Street: Catering

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library copies of the menus, including prices, for the 10 Downing Street canteen from 30 June to 4 July 2008.

Phil Hope: The Prime Minister's Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office catering provider offers a range of food across the Cabinet Office estate. Records of menus are not held by the Cabinet Office.

Departmental Land

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which areas of land are held for development by the Duchy of Lancaster as outlined on page 20 of its 2007 report and accounts.

Edward Miliband: On page 20 of the 2007 annual report and accounts land held for development is valued at 4,030,000. This relates to 3.9 million within the Duchy's Crewe Survey with the balance within the Duchy's Yorkshire Survey.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which make and model of car he has chosen as his ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Edward Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Department of Transport (Jim Fitzpatrick) on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Pensions

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what date and for what reason the Duchy of Lancaster staff pension final salary scheme was closed to new entrants.

Edward Miliband: The Duchy of Lancaster Staff Pension Scheme was closed to new entrants with effect from 6 February 2002.
	In line with a large number of other businesses, those running the Duchy estate wished to have greater certainty in the level of contribution within the business. The Duchy makes a contribution to new employees personal pension plans based upon a percentage of their gross salary.

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

Edward Miliband: Expenditure incurred on research services is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Phil Hope: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Non-profit Making Associations

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what  (a) programmes and  (b) support he provides for the promotion and development of social enterprise.

Phil Hope: The Government's commitments to supporting and promoting the development of social enterprise are set out in the Social Enterprise Action Plan: Scaling New Heights (November 2006), copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House, and in The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration: final report (The Third Sector ReviewJuly 2007), copies of which have been placed in the Library.
	The Social Enterprise Action Plan sets out a range of actions committed to by the Office of the Third Sector and other Government Departments to foster a culture of social enterprise; ensure social enterprise has access to the right information and advice; enable social enterprise to access appropriate finance; and to enable social enterprise to work with government.
	Progress highlights in the delivery of the Social Enterprise Action Plan include:
	Over 30 social enterprise ambassadors have been recruited;
	Social enterprise models will be included in the GCSE business studies syllabus and wider school curriculum from September 2008;
	5.9 million has been provided to RDAs to improve business support for social enterprise;
	Consultation on the 10 million social enterprise risk capital investment fund has concluded and work is under way to finalise the fund prior to launch;
	The number of OTS strategic partners has been increased to 45 to include seven new social enterprise strategic partners.
	The Third Sector Review sets out Government's support for the third sector over the CSR period. It includes four commitments specific to social enterprise:
	I. Promoting social enterprise
	II. Building the evidence base
	III. Consulting on the use of unclaimed assets for social investment
	IV. Enabling social enterprise to work with government.

Non-profit Making Associations: Ethnic Groups

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's funding of black and minority ethnic social enterprise.

Phil Hope: The Government do not fund individual social enterprises directly, rather they provide strategic funding to organisations that represent and support social enterprise. This is in addition to the commitments to support an environment in which social enterprise can thrive as set out in the Social Enterprise Action Plan: Scaling New Heights (November 2006) and in The future role of the third sector in social and economic regeneration (July 2007).
	Seven social enterprise representative organisations receive strategic funding from the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) to provide a credible and effective voice for the sector into Government, to act as an advocate for the sector and to work with Government to develop and implement policy.
	In total 20 per cent. of OTS strategic funding for social enterprise partners is ring fenced to enable them to work alongside black and minority ethnic (BME) groups to ensure their voice is heard. To draw this work together the Social Enterprise Coalition is funded to develop a strategy to engage and integrate BME social enterprise into the wider social enterprise movement. This work is ongoing and a strategy will be in place in autumn 2008.
	In addition we fund Voice4Change England to enhance the effectiveness of the black and minority ethnic third sector.

Non-profit Making Associations: Trade Unions

Margaret Moran: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent discussions he has had with trades unions on the role of social enterprise in public service delivery.

Phil Hope: Ministers and officials engage with many people, including trade union representatives, on a wide range of third sector policy issues, among them public service delivery. It is not normal practice to disclose details of such meetings.

Rural Payments Agency

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much the Duchy of Lancaster received from the Rural Payments Agency in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Edward Miliband: The Rural Payments Agency paid the Duchy 27,013.77 in relation to the Single Payment Scheme 2007. This is in respect to land held by the Duchy to protect the receipt of such payment for future tenants when the land is let.

Smith Institute

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  on what date the Charity Commission began its current investigation into the Smith Institute;
	(2)  how many complaints the Charity Commission has received about the Smith Institute.

Phil Hope: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Charity Commission. I have asked the Commission to reply.
	 Letter from Andrew Hind, dated 17 July 2008:
	As Chief Executive of the Charity Commission, I have been asked to reply to your questions regarding our statutory inquiry into the Smith Institute (217364 and 217365). The Commission closed its inquiry yesterday (16 July), and, as is our usual policy, we will shortly report the outcome by publishing a statement of results on our website. The information you have asked for is contained in that report, which will be available here: www.charitycommission.gov.uk.
	I hope this information is helpful.

Trade Unions: Internet

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will amend the text on www.direct.gov.uk in the sections entitled Introduction to Trade Unions and Your Right to Join (or Not to Join) a Trade Union to include information on employees' rights to opt out of the trades union political levy.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	Direct.gov is intended to provide outline guidance for citizens on a wide variety of topics. More detailed guidance on trade unions, including information on employee's rights to opt-out of the trade union political levy, is given on the BERR website. It is intended that material covering employment on the BERR website, including on trade unions, will be converged onto direct.gov and businesslink.gov by April 2009. The guidance on the trade union political levy will be considered as part of this process.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Annual Leave

Lynne Jones: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1452-53W, on annual leave, on what basis the leave arrangements for staff appointed to the Senior Commons Service were set; and whether there is any independent oversight of such leave arrangements.

Nick Harvey: The leave arrangements for the Senior Commons Service have been in place for some years, and are intended to make the House of Commons jobs attractive to direct recruits at senior levels. There are, however, restrictions. For example, most SCS staff may take annual leave only when the House is not sitting, and cannot carry forward unused leave from one year to another. Oversight of the terms of employment of all staff (including SCS) rests with the Management Board and the House of Commons Commission.

Portcullis House: Energy

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what estimate he has made of the energy efficiency of Portcullis House in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: The annual energy consumptions obtained from energy supply invoices and the energy consumptions per square metre for Portcullis House for each of the last five years are given in the following table:
	
		
			   kWh  kWh/m2 
			 2003-04 7,661,201 414.0 
			 2004-05 7,261,092 392.4 
			 2005-06 7,436,070 401.8 
			 2006-07 7,039,340 380.4 
			 2007-08 7,132,608 385.4 
			  Note:  These figures are not weather corrected. 
		
	
	Following an independent energy survey report in February 2008 a number of measures are under consideration which could lead to a significant reduction in consumption. These recommendations are under consideration for inclusion in the programme of works.
	These figures differ slightly from those given in the answer to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Chris Huhne) on 27 April 2007 for two reasons. Firstly, for this answer we obtained the gas and electricity consumption figures from invoices; in the previous response we used the same method to determine the electricity consumption but calculated the gas consumptions from meter readings and standard conversion factors. The gas invoices, though, have the more accurate consumption figures. Secondly, we have used a recently received, more accurate floor area for this answer than we used for the 2007 response.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa: Energy

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what practical assistance his Department has provided to countries in Africa to mitigate the adverse effects of rising energy prices.

Gillian Merron: Our aid spending in Africa is set to more than double, from 1.3 billion in 2004 to over 3 billion in 2010. DFID, through country and regional programmes, supports African countries' efforts to accelerate growth to reduce poverty. This helps our partner countries to cope with the rise in external fuel prices and mitigate the impact of these rises on the poor.
	The UK supports the key international financial institutions which are leading an international response to this global challenge. The International Monetary Fund is helping with balance-of-payments support, and has so far provided additional financial assistance to five African countries. The World Bank is active in providing policy advice on regulatory efficiency and renewable energy, financial support through investments in energy, and in research on the drivers of energy price rises.

Burma: Politics and Government

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what response his Department is making to the humanitarian situation in Chin State, western Burma.

Douglas Alexander: Food security in the already vulnerable Chin State dramatically worsened at the end of 2007 and early 2008 due to a rat infestation. The worst affected areas are the remote villages in townships along the Indian border in central and southern ChinTahntlang, Matupi and Paletwa townships.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is providing 4 million over four years to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its national Human Development Initiative, which includes work in all the townships of Chin State. A UNDP needs assessment team returned from Chin earlier this week. We will consider the case for further assistance to affected populations in Chin State through UNDP on the basis of their assessment.
	In order to collect more information on needs and potential mechanisms for support, DFID officials have also met with local and international NGOS working in Chin State. DFID is also planning a mission to look at the work being done by Chin groups based in India to meet needs in Chin State.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what percentage of staff in his Department have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Gillian Merron: The information for the last three calendars for home civil service staff is as follows:
	In 2005, 276 staff had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days, this represents 14.7 per cent. of staff.
	In 2006, 288 staff had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days, this represents 15.5 per cent. of staff.
	In 2007, 213 staff had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days, this represents 11.1 per cent. of staff.

Developing Countries: Food

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent estimate he has made of long-term trends in the price of food in developing countries; what assessment he has made of the contribution of  (a) the price of fuel and  (b) the effects of climate change to such trends; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Government have been working closely with the major international organisations (World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UN agencies and International Food Policy Research Institute) in order to assess future price trends. Increased cereal production and the removal of export bans have brought about a recent calming of markets, and prices have fallen back from the very high levels seen earlier this year. But the consensus remains that the underlying demand for food remains strong, and according to the World Bank, this is likely to keep prices well above 2004 levels for most food crops until 2015.
	The Government recently published a detailed analysis of the causes of recent price rises. High oil prices have put upward pressure on food prices by increasing production costs, through high fuel, fertiliser, transport, packaging, and processing costs. The World Bank estimates that a 10 per cent. rise in crude oil prices translates into a 1.6 per cent. increase in agricultural commodity prices. Weather has a direct impact on agricultural yields and food supplies. While recent food price rises cannot be linked directly with longer-term trends in climate change, there is no room for complacency. The UK Government will continue to push the international community for significantly higher investment in water management in developing countries, to ensure their agriculture is better prepared for the increasingly erratic weather patterns that are predicted.
	The British Government remain concerned about the impact of high food prices on the poorest people in developing countries. We are pleased with the outcome at the recent G8 summit, where members committed $10 billion to improving global food security. We will continue to take a leading role in pressing for a coordinated and effective international response.

Diplomatic Service: Manpower

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's 10 highest-staffed missions abroad are; and how many  (a) UK-based and  (b) locally-engaged personnel are employed in each.

Douglas Alexander: The 10 highest-staffed DFID offices are shown in the following table with breakdown of home civil servants (HCS), and staff appointed in country (SAIClocally engaged staff), as at the end of June 2008.
	
		
			  Office  HCS  SAIC  Total 
			 DFID Bangladesh 20 75 95 
			 DFID India 20 69 89 
			 DFID Nigeria 26 49 75 
			 DFID Pakistan 20 32 52 
			 DFID Ethiopia 19 33 52 
			 DFID Nepal 14 36 50 
			 DFID Malawi 12 36 48 
			 DFID Democratic Republic of Congo 15 28 43 
			 DFID Kenya and Somalia 10 32 42 
			 DFID Uganda 11 29 40

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many home information packs have been commissioned by  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies to market a residential property; for which properties; at what cost; and whether a voluntary home condition report was purchased as part of the packs.

Shahid Malik: None. The requirement to prepare home information packs applies to the marketing for sale of residential properties. This Department has not been involved in any such transactions since 1 August 2007.

Languages

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 762W, on languages, how many of his departmental staff have received language training in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Requirements for language training are assessed by each overseas office and based upon business priorities. As such the Department for International Development (DFID) does not hold central records on language training, but according to our main external language training provider 130 staff have received training in the last 18 months. This is equivalent to 35 per cent. of home civil service staff posted overseas at any given time.

Languages

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 15 July 2008,  Official Report, column 318W, on languages, how many  (a) Pashto and  (b) Dari speakers there are in his Department; and how many took a language course in each of the last two years.

Gillian Merron: In the Department for International Development five staff speak Pashto and two speak Dari. Our main language training provider has trained two staff in Dari and four in Pashto during 2006-07 and two staff in Dari during 2007-08.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development to what  (a) regions and  (b) projects the new UK development assistance to border areas in Pakistan will be allocated; and what mechanisms will be used to monitor the use of such aid.

Douglas Alexander: The UK is already a major donor to North West Frontier Province (NWFP), one of two Pakistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. We will aim to do more there, as well as extend our work over the period of our new five-year country plan to the other border province, Balochistan, where problems of poverty, exclusion and insecurity are pronounced. We will also build on our work with the Secretariat responsible for co-ordinating the Government of Pakistan's development efforts in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), which are some of the most inaccessible and insecure parts of Pakistan.
	We will build government systems to help ensure basic services are delivered more efficiently and effectively. We will put more money into education to get more children into school, improve teaching, and provide the skills young people need to get jobs. We are already one of the leading donors to the health sector in Pakistan, and are committed to continuing to support national programmes that benefit the border areas, for example on mother and child health and in combating the spread of TB and polio. We will help build a stronger civil society to promote rights and ensure poor people receive the services they need.
	DFID has a rigorous set of procedures to safeguard funding. Overall progress on the country programme is measured by means of quantifiable, time bound targets, supported by a detailed business plan. Individual programmes and projects also include a performance measurement framework with clear targets. Progress against these targets is assessed by means of annual reviews. These reviews, which also include a comprehensive risk analysis, ensure that DFID funds are being used effectively and are achieving their intended results.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what proportion of the Government Equalities Office's budget has been spent on research since its inception.

Barbara Follett: Since its establishment as a stand alone department on the 12 October 2007, the Government Equalities Office has spent 4.36 per cent. of its total expenditure on research activities. This figure includes the cost of research staff employed by the Government Equalities Office.

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government Equalities Office has taken since its establishment to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office was officially established on 12 October 2007 and is based in Eland House London, which is the headquarters building of the Department of Communities and Local Government. Consequently GEO follows DCLG's policies and practices on the reduction of the volume of waste. DCLG's policies and practices seek to minimise the amount of waste that goes to landfill sites by ensuring, among other things, that food waste is separated for composting. DCLG estimate that since the introduction, in January 2008, of food waste composting in their kitchens, over 16 tonnes of food waste has been diverted from landfill. GEO also uses DCLG facilities for collecting cans, bottles, cardboard and plastics for recycling.

Single Equality Bill: Draft

David Drew: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality when she plans to publish the draft Single Equality Bill; and what work has been done on the key principles of the Bill prior to discussion in Cabinet.

Barbara Follett: As my announcement in Parliament on 25 June made clear the Government remain committed to introducing an Equality Bill during this Parliament. The further policy considerations, and intensive stakeholder engagement, which the Government's comprehensive consultation on its proposals for an Equality Bill provoked mean that there are no plans to publish it in draft.
	The key principles of the Bill have been subject to collective consideration by Ministers in the normal way and the Government will publish its response to the consultation in due course. This will make the intended content of the Bill clear and there will be ample time to scrutinise this as it makes its way through Parliament.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Abortion: Northern Ireland

David Amess: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  what  (a) representations she has received and  (b) discussions she has had since January 2008 with hon. and right hon. Members wishing to introduce an amendment to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill to extend the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland; what response she gave; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  with whom she discussed her decision to postpone consideration of the remaining stages of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill prior to her announcement; and if she will make a statement.

Harriet Harman: As Leader of the House and chair of the Cabinet Committee on Legislation, I have regular discussions with many hon. and right hon. Members on amending legislation.
	I announced in my weekly Business Statement on 3 July, the provisional business for the week of 14 July, which included the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. On the 10 July I confirmed to the House that consideration of the Employment bill would be brought forward.
	Business managers regularly have to balance the need for the scheduling of all legislation that is outstanding.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House 
	(1)  what measures are in place in her Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes;
	(2)  what purchasing process is used by her Office for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Helen Goodman: All proposals to purchase alcohol for hospitality purposes need the prior approval of the Cabinet Office Finance Director. The purchase of alcohol, which may be via the Government Procurement Card, by invoice or by a staff claim is monitored by the Cabinet Office Financial Management Team.
	It is important to emphasise that the official purchase and provision of alcohol is an unusual undertaking. Therefore, all expenditure, including that on hospitality, has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Paper

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of paper used  (a) for photocopying and  (b) in printed publications by her Office was from recycled sources in each of the last two years.

Helen Goodman: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons has been part of the Cabinet Office since May 2007. All paper used for photocopying is 100 per cent. recycled with a post-consumer waste content of 100 per cent.
	Prior to May 2007, 100 per cent. of paper used by the Leader of the House of Commons Office for photocopying was from recycled sources. Paper used for printed publications complies with the Government's Sustainable Procurement quick wins agenda, which states that coated papers must contain a minimum of 60 per cent. recycled fibre and uncoated papers 100 per cent. recycled fibre. In practice most papers used comprise at least 75 per cent. recycled fibre for coated and 100 per cent. for uncoated.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House what her Office's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Helen Goodman: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is committed to the Better Payment Practice Code on prompt payment and aims to pay all undisputed invoices within the terms of the contract, usually 30 days from receipt of a valid invoice.
	The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons does not request discounts from suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Departmental Public Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House which organisations have received  (a) free and  (b) discounted room hire from (i) her Office and (ii) its agencies in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case.

Helen Goodman: None.

Departmental Public Participation

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House if she will list  (a) the reviews and  (b) public consultations initiated by her Department since 27 June 2007.

Harriet Harman: Since 27 June 2007, the Leader of the House initiated the following, which could be considered a review or public consultation:
	
		
			  Review/public consultation  Date announced  Reference in Official Report 
			 Draft Legislative Programme public consultation 2007 11 July 2007 Volume 462, column 1449 
			 Review of European Scrutiny 25 October 2007 Volume 465, column 443 
			 Review of Parliamentary pay and pensions conducted by Sir John Baker 16 January 2008 Volume 470, column 32WS 
			 Review of topical debates 7 February 2008 Volume 471, column 83WS 
			 Draft Legislative Programme public consultation 2008 14 May 2008 Volume 475, column 1385 
			 Review of the Parliamentary Pension Scheme 17 June 2008 Volume 477, column 45WS 
			 Parliamentary audit and practice assurance 16 July 2008 Volume 479, column 31WS

Departmental Responsibilities

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House which projects her Office has commissioned from  (a) think tanks and  (b) charities in each of the last two years for which figures are available; what the aim of each project was; which think tank or charity was commissioned; and how much was paid.

Helen Goodman: None.

Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Leader of the House how many and what proportion of staff in her Office are disabled; and what the average salary in her Office is of  (a) full-time disabled staff,  (b) full-time non-disabled staff,  (c) part-time disabled staff and  (d) part-time non-disabled staff.

Helen Goodman: The provision of personal information on disability is optional and is held on individual's electronic staff files. Owing to the nature and size of the Office, providing this information could result in the identification of individuals.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Appeals

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General when she plans to answer Question 214873, on applications for leave to appeal, tabled on 25 June 2008.

Vera Baird: This has been answered today.

Appeals: Central Government

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 21 May 2008,  Official Report, column 352W, on appeals: central Government, which departments the Treasury Solicitor's Department represents in their applications for leave to appeal; and how many such applications the Treasury Solicitor's Department handled in the last 12 months.

Vera Baird: The Treasury Solicitor's Department acted on behalf of most central Government Departments on various legal matters during 2007-08. Data specifically on applications for leave to appeal to the House of Lords (both in terms of the number of applications and which client Department they relate to) are not maintained by the Treasury Solicitor's Department. Furthermore, as there has been no call from client Departments for this information in the past, the Treasury Solicitor has consequently not been able to justify the commitment of public funds to collate and record these applications in the form requested. The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

BAE Systems

Adam Price: To ask the Solicitor-General what progress the Serious Fraud Office has made in its investigations into allegations against BAe Systems; and if she will make a statement.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office is continuing to investigate alleged offences involving BAE Systems plc. Further comment cannot be made for cases currently under investigation.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General what measures are in place in the Attorney-General's Office to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Vera Baird: Expenditure is only incurred when Ministers host special events for external parties. This occurs infrequently and expenditure is approved by the Director of Finance.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Solicitor-General what purchasing process is used by the Law Officers' Departments for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Vera Baird: When alcohol is provided for hospitality purposes it is purchased through each Department's catering contractors. These contractors are procured according to Government guidelines and expenditure has to be incurred in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.

Departmental Public Buildings

Mark Hoban: To ask the Solicitor-General which organisations have received  (a) free and  (b) discounted room hire from the Attorney-General's Office in each of the last five years; and what the commercial value of the discount was in each case.

Vera Baird: The Attorney-General's Office does not hire out rooms to other organisations.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Solicitor-General how many working days have been lost due to sickness amongst employees for which the Law Officers Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Vera Baird: The following tables provide the details of the number of working days lost due to sickness. These are broken down by the different Departments as records are not held in the same way.
	
		
			  Attorney-General's Office, Treasury Solicitors Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 
			  Calendar year  Average working days lost per person 
			 2003 5.5 
			 2004 5.1 
			 2005 7.2 
			 2006 7.1 
			 2007  
			  Note: Records prior to 2003 are not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Crown Prosecution Service 
			  Calendar year  Average working days lost per person 
			 2001 8.9 
			 2002 8.8 
			 2003 9.2 
			 2004 8.0 
			 2005 9.7 
			 2006 9.9 
			 2007 10.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office 
			  Calendar year  Average working days lost per person 
			 2005 (April to December)(1) 4.5 
			 2006 4.5 
			 2007 4.3 
			 2008 (January to March) 7.2 
			 (1) RCPO was created on 18 April 2005. 
		
	
	
		
			  Serious Fraud Office 
			  Financial year  Average working days lost per person 
			 2000-01 6.1 
			 2001-02 5.2 
			 2002-03 9.5 
			 2003-04 14.6 
			 2004-05 11.3 
			 2005-06 6.2 
			 2006-07 8.3 
			 2007-08 8.1

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Solicitor-General how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which the Law Officer's Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Vera Baird: The following tables provide the details of the number of working days lost due to industrial action. These are broken down by the different Departments as records are not held in the same way. Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office has lost 22 working days due to industrial action since its creation in April 2005.
	
		
			  Attorney-General's Office, Treasury Solicitors Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate 
			  Financial year  Total days lost 
			 2006-07 42 
			 2007-08 30 
			  Note: Figures for earlier years are not available. 
		
	
	
		
			  Crown Prosecution Service( 1) 
			  Calendar year  Total days lost 
			 2001 1,005 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 1,040 
			 2005 0 
			 2006 0 
			 2007 2,089 
			 (1) The HR recording system counts industrial action as special leave without pay. The figures above will therefore include genuine cases of special leave. 
		
	
	
		
			  Serious Fraud Office( 1) 
			  Financial year  Working days lost 
			 2006-07 1 
			 2007-08 1 
			 (1) The SFO records only show the number of industrial actions which SFO staff participated in, not how many staff were absent from work on these days.

Prosecutions: Hunting Act

John MacDougall: To ask the Solicitor-General what training on the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004 staff of the Crown Prosecution Service receives.

Vera Baird: Prosecutors in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not receive specific training on the Hunting Act 2004. However, the CPS has provided guidance for prosecutors on the Hunting Act 2004. The guidance provides advice on: the offences created under the legislation; the statutory defences available; police powers; and the evidential and public interest issues that arise. The guidance is kept under close review, and it is updated to take account of developments in case law and any other relevant changes.
	In addition, all prosecution decisions are subject to the evidential and public interest tests, set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

Serious Fraud Office: Manpower

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Solicitor-General what proportion of Serious Fraud Office staff are  (a) lawyers,  (b) accountants and  (c) police officers; and what the equivalent numbers were on 31 December 2007.

Vera Baird: The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not keep separate records of the number of police officers or accountants that it employs. Both police officers and accountants can work in the capacity of financial investigators at the SFO. On 18 July 2008, the following numbers of staff by category specified was as follows:
	
		
			  Job role  Number of staff  Proportion of total staff( 1)  (percentage) 
			 Investigators 117 39 
			 Lawyers 58 19 
			 (1) Based on 299 permanent members of staff in post on 18 July 2008. 
		
	
	On 31 December 2007, the following numbers of staff by category specified was as follows:
	
		
			  Job role  Number of staff  Proportion of total staff( 1)  (percentage) 
			 Investigators 118 39 
			 Lawyers 58 19 
			 (1) Based on 300 permanent members of staff in post on 31 December 2007.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Leicester

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many projects and organisations in Leicester have received Arts Council funding in the last 12 months.

Margaret Hodge: According to the Arts Council, in 2007-08, 11 organisations in Leicester received grants on a regularly funded basis and nine projects were funded through its Grants for the Arts programme.

Arts: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by publicly-funded bodies for which his Department is responsible on the promotion of Welsh culture overseas, in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by country.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 July 2008
	My Department provides grant in aid to VisitBritain to promote Britain, including Wales, abroad.
	It is not possible to disaggregate precisely how much of the campaign material, or its cost, could be regarded as promoting specifically Welsh culture but VisitBritain supports a wide range of Welsh cultural events, through its international media campaigns, and website, including the National Eisteddfod, the Ruthin Festival and the Festival of Daffodils.
	VisitBritain works closely with Visit Wales and other culture and heritage partners in Wales to help ensure the widest possible promotion of cultural events in Wales, and Britain as a whole, for the international visitor. VisitBritain's Los Angeles office is currently working with Visit Wales to promote cultural messages about Wales around the film 'Edge of Love', the Dylan Thomas biopic which received funding from the UK Film Council.

Betting Shops

Ian McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many betting shops in each region have been visited as part of the Gambling Commission Annual Visit Programme since September 2007; how many such shops in each region were found to be at risk of non-compliance with each of the Gambling Commission's three licensing objectives; what enforcement action has been taken; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The Gambling Commission has provided a regional breakdown of the number of betting premises visited as part of their compliance programme. Additional visits may have been made outside of the compliance programme to other betting premises to consider, for example, a specific complaint.
	
		
			   Number of premises visited since 1 September( 1) 
			 London and South East 217 
			 Midlands 172 
			 North East 115 
			 North West and North Wales 174 
			 Scotland 78 
			 South West and South Wales 119 
			 (1) As at 31 May 2008. 
		
	
	In many cases, time has been taken as part of an initial compliance visit to further educate operators about compliance with the requirements of the Gambling Commission's licence conditions and codes of practice.
	Repeat visits have then been used to establish whether appropriate steps have been taken.
	To date, there have been nine referrals of bookmakers licensed to operate betting shops for further investigation under section 116 of the Gambling Act by the Gambling Commission's enforcement team. For operational reasons it would not be appropriate to go into the detail of these ongoing cases. If formal regulatory action is taken, details will be published on the Gambling Commission's website at:
	www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Cultural Relations: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department plans to provide to the Connections through Culture initiative in the next three years.

Margaret Hodge: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will continue its commitment of 100,000 per annum to China: UK Connections through Culture for a second term, 2009-12.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All expenditure on hospitality (inclusive of alcohol) is governed by the Department's general finance and accounting rules, where budget holders are required to scrutinise and agree areas of spend in accordance with clearly defined guidelines.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what purchasing process is used by his Department for the procurement of alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The purchasing of alcohol is normally connected with departmental events, which is procured through either in house or external caterers according to pre-determined specification used when asking for quotations for hospitality. It is normally supplied on a sale or return basis. For ad-hoc requirements the purchasing can be undertaken using the Government Procurement Card, in accordance with normal departmental guidelines for using the card.

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which make and model of car he has chosen as his Ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Transport on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Departmental Procurement

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's policy is on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment of invoices.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not have a specific policy on requesting discounts from its suppliers in return for swift payment. However the majority of goods and services are purchased through the OGC Catalist frameworks, where discounted rates are already secured as a result of the volume of Government spending activity.

Departmental Retirement

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many employees of his Department have been asked to retire on reaching 65 years of age in each year since 2000.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In the Department for Culture, Media and Sport the default retirement age was 60 until 1 October 2006 when it became 65. In 2008 two employees retired at reaching 65. No other employees have retired on reaching age 65 since 2000.

Digital Broadcasting

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of  (a) the UK,  (b) England,  (c) Wales,  (d) Scotland and  (e) Northern Ireland (i) was covered by a minimum acceptable digital radio signal in (A) 2006 and (B) 2007 and (ii) will be so covered in 2008.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 7 July 2008
	Digital radio is available nearly universally across the United Kingdom over satellite and the internet, and over Freeview to approximately 73 per cent. of the population. But the principal means of receiving digital radio is on the digital audio broadcasting (DAB) platform and coverage varies between multiplexes: the two national multiplexes, one commercial and one BBC, and the 58 individual local multiplexes.
	DAB coverage is principally measured by population rather than geographic area, but there is no single definition of a minimum acceptable digital radio signal. However, I understand that approximately 90 per cent. of the UK population currently have some access to DAB services on at least one multiplex. The BBC are in the process of building a number of new transmitters to ensure that their multiplex reaches at least 90 per cent. of the population by the end of this Charter period in 2012, and I have asked them to write to the hon. Member setting out the detail of their existing and planned coverage.
	The coverage data which Ofcom have gathered in relation to the other multiplexes are set out in their Communications Market Report and are summarised in the following table. Data for 2008 are not yet available.
	The Digital Radio Working Group has identified both population and geographic coverage as crucial to the success of DAB and I welcome their proposal to examine these matters further in working towards their final report to me at the end of the year.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   UK  England  Scotland  Wales  N Ireland 
			  2006  
			 National commercial multiplex 86 89 76 53 0 
			 Combined local commercial multiplexes(1) 89 92 92 73 100 
			   
			  2007  
			 National commercial multiplex 88 93 76 67 0 
			 Combined local commercial multiplexes n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 n/a = not available (1) These figures show the potential coverage if rolled out to 100 of the licensed area.

Digital Broadcasting

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the number and distribution of households expected to be unable to receive a television signal, either via satellite or via terrestrial services, after the digital switchover has taken place.

Andy Burnham: At switchover, it is expected that UK-wide coverage levels for digital terrestrial television (DTT) will reach that of present analogue services which is 98.5 per cent. of households. Digital satellite services are available to 98 per cent. of UK households.
	Ofcom has advised that the 1.5 per cent. of homes (approximately 375,000 households) who will not be able to receive a fully reliable digital terrestrial signal are overwhelmingly those not covered by the existing analogue terrestrial services and in general already obtain their television services from an alternative platform, such as satellite or using self-help transmitters.
	Ofcom is continuing to look for ways to improve coverage in areas where they know there is likely to be a problem and to work with Digital UK to ensure that those affected know what their options are.

Digital Broadcasting

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate has been made of the number of households which have switched over to digital television in  (a) Forest of Dean constituency,  (b) Gloucestershire and  (c) the UK.

Andy Burnham: In their recently published Digital Television Update, Ofcom estimate that 87.1 per cent. (c. 22 million) of UK households had digital television at the end of Q1 2008.
	A regional breakdown of these figures is not available.

Digital Broadcasting

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment has been made of the effect of recent changes in the cost of living and disposable household income on households' preparation for digital switchover.

Andy Burnham: Research suggests that age and disability are the most important indicators of lower digital TV take up and there is no evidence to indicate that cost of switchover is prohibitive or a barrier to conversion. Research by Ofcom's Advisory Committee on Older and Disabled People suggested that low income alone is not likely to prevent people preparing for switchover.
	There are a number of options for switching to digital and the cost will vary depending on what TV service and TV equipment is chosen. Digital terrestrial set top boxes, for example, start from around 20.

Digital Radio Working Group

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will publish the evidence the Independent Digital Radio Working Group considered in preparation of its interim report.

Andy Burnham: The evidence considered by the Digital Radio Working Group (DRWG) in preparing for the interim report was commissioned independently by the DRWG. Therefore, it is right for the DRWG, not my Department, to decide whether this evidence is made public.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate has been made of the number of  (a) people aged over 75 and  (b) disabled people who have taken advantage of the digital switchover help scheme in  (a) Forest of Dean constituency,  (b) Gloucestershire and  (c) the UK.

Andy Burnham: The digital switchover help scheme assisted 2,616 people in Copeland, Cumbria. The help scheme has just begun to assist people in the Selkirk transmitter area within the Border TV region and full take up figures will be published after the help scheme closes for that area in December. Gloucestershire, including the Forest of Dean, does not switch until 2010 and eligibility for the help scheme will start eight months before the first transmitter switch in that region. The way in which the help scheme was provided with information for Copeland means that data on the breakdown between those aged 75 or over and those who are disabled are not readily available. The help scheme is considering how best to make such information available in future, consistent with its data protection duties.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme: Data Protection

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what restrictions there are on the use by stakeholders involved with the delivery of the Digital Switchover Help Scheme of personal data supplied to them in connection with the scheme.

Andy Burnham: Access to data must be in accordance with The Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007. Information disclosed under the Act is strictly for use in connection with 'switchover help functions' and there are criminal penalties for unlawful disclosure. The powers to disclose information will effectively lapse once the switchover process is completed. Before processing the information, DWP and local authorities will need to satisfy themselves that the security and IT procedures in place for handling the data are appropriate. A Memorandum of Understanding exists between DWP and the scheme administrator to ensure that the data are processed in accordance with the law, including compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Disabled

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many and what proportion of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the executive agencies for which he is responsible are disabled; and what the average salary in his (i) Department and (ii) executive agencies is of (A) full-time disabled staff, (B) full-time non-disabled staff, (C) part-time disabled staff and (D) part-time non-disabled staff.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is as follows:
	i) DCMS has 14 (3 per cent.) staff who have declared a disability across the grades. The Royal Parks Agency have 2 (2 per cent.) of staff who have declared a disability.
	ii) There is no difference between the average salary of a disabled and non disabled member of staff in either full-time or part-time posts in DCMS or the Royal Parks Agency.

Festivals and Special Occasions: Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many requests his Department received for funding to be allocated to the promotion and celebration of specific celebratory days in 2007.

Margaret Hodge: Information is not held on the number of direct requests to my Department for funding to be allocated for the promotion and celebration of specific days in 2007. As the majority of DCMS funding is channelled through our NDPBs, it is possible that these bodies may have received direct requests for funding, but that information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gambling

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport with reference to his Department's press release 131/04, on the publication of the Gambling Bill, how many mystery shopper surveys the Gambling Commission has conducted since its creation; when these surveys were carried out; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Gambling Commission conducted a pilot mystery shopping exercise last summer on remote sites operated by prospective licensees and others. At that stage many operators were changing their systems to comply with the commission's prospective licence conditions and codes of practice. Using the approach developed in the pilot, the commission now has an ongoing programme of mystery shopping on remote sites provided under a commission licence as part of its compliance programme. I will ask the chief executive of the Gambling Commission to write to the hon. Member on this matter and to place a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

Gambling: Young People

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent research his Department has commissioned into levels of gambling amongst young people aged  (a) between 16 and 18 and  (b) under 16 years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The British Gambling Prevalence Survey (BGPS) 2007, commissioned by the Gambling Commission, provides data on participation in gambling and the prevalence of problem gambling in Britain among the adult population aged 16 and above. The Gambling Commission have also commissioned a literature review of children and gambling which is due to be published in the summer. The National Lottery Commission's (NLC) ongoing research programme includes regular tracking surveys of 12-to-15 year-olds to monitor underage play of the national lottery. This research includes information on underage participation in other gambling activities. The NLC are in the tender process for the next survey which is due to be published in summer 2009.

Government Olympic Executive: Manpower

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on staffing for the Government Olympic Executive in each year since 2004.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The cost of staffing the Government Olympic Executive (and its predecessor, the Olympic Games Unit until May 2006) in each financial year since 2004-05 is as follows (including salaries, national insurance and pension contributions and agency staff).
	
		
			  Financial year  Staff costs ( million) 
			 2004-05 0.35 
			 2005-06 1.09 
			 2006-07 2.76 
			 2007-08 4.67

Sports: Children

Helen Southworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the benefits for children and young people of participation in organised sport; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: I have engaged with ministerial colleagues including the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families on a number of initiatives relating to the participation of children in organised sport and the resultant benefits. These include the launch of the Sport England strategy, and the Legacy Action Plan for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Before, during and after: making the most of the London 2012 Games.
	Additionally, regular meetings take place between the Minister for Sport and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children, Young People and Families, the Ministers jointly responsible for PE and Sports Strategy for Young People (PESSYP).

Television: Advertising

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the revenue generated from product placement on ITV in the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: Ofcom's Broadcasting Code does not allow ITV or other UK commercial TV companies to reach product placement deals with advertisers. The Government's estimate therefore of the revenue generated from product placement on ITV is nil.

Television: Smoking

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  if he will discuss with those involved in the production of entertainment media the possible relationship between the on-screen depiction of smoking and rates of smoking among young people;
	(2)  whether he has received recent representations on the classification of films which show positive images of smoking.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The depiction of smoking in films is covered by the guidelines for the British Board of Film Classification, which were reviewed in 2005 after extensive public consultation and were updated accordingly. Any films which are found to be (1) aimed at children and (2) Works which promote or glamorise smoking receive a restricted rating. We have no plans at present to examine the impact on screen depiction of smoking but we do of course, keep these matters under constant review.

UNESCO Convention on Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the cultural effects of ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Margaret Hodge: The UK Government have already adopted the Annex of the Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage as best practice for archaeology. Although we keep the matter under review. We do not believe that the case for ratification by the UK has been made.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Departmental Official Cars

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which make and model of car he has chosen as his ministerial car to be provided by the Government Car and Despatch Agency.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport on 16 July 2008,  Official Report, column 414W.

Funding: Energy Generation

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how much funding his Department has provided through the Technology Strategy Board for projects relating to  (a) energy generation,  (b) renewable energy generation,  (c) energy transmission and  (d) energy efficiency, broken down by region in each year since its inception;
	(2)  how much funding his Department has provided through grants for research and development for projects relating to  (a) energy generation,  (b) renewable energy generation,  (c) energy transmission and  (d) energy efficiency in each of the last five years, broken down by region.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 10 July 2008
	The following tables cover funding provided to projects relating to energy generation, renewable energy generation and energy transmission. No figures are provided for energy efficiency however as a significant proportion of the Technology Strategy Board's current portfolio of 750 projects with a combined business and Government investment of over 1 billion, are driven by considerations of efficiency, both energy and natural resource. Identifying relevant projects and providing a regional breakdown for these can be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	The funding identified in the tables cover grants awarded by Energy Group in the then DTI, both prior to, and following the establishment of the advisory Technology Strategy Board, to October 2004. It also includes grants awarded by the executive Technology Strategy Board, established on 1 July 2007. It does not include grants awarded in the area of clean coal technologies, worth 5 million in 2003-04, and approximately 6.5 million in 2004-05. Identifying and providing a regional breakdown for these projects can be achieved only at disproportionate cost.
	The regional breakdown provided relates to the location of the lead partner in a consortium. It does not therefore reflect the funding provided to organisations based in each of the regions.
	
		
			  Energy generation 
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2000-07  2007-08 
			 East Midlands 1,783,409 934,932 1,798,893 2,087,397 2,863,541 
			 East of England 0 3,880,892 0 1,188,846 2,232,816 
			 London 477,000 304,500 0 1,358,568 2,172,591 
			 North East 4,508,163 304,129 2,112,719 184,523 1,954,915 
			 North West 224,339 1,040,100 687,072 212,721 322,271 
			 N Ireland 0 42,170 0 0 0 
			 Scotland 3,725,974 478,260 1,876,729 0 4,737,367 
			 South East 1,361,990 6,939,332 2,987,893 2,198,825 5,672,088 
			 South West 5,208,057 1,308,367 1,628,662 1,484,967 958,668 
			 Wales 0 0 574,802 0 0 
			 West Midlands 519,587 81,966 2,536.958 1,140,926 1,288,459 
			 Yorkshire 27,250 403,728 0 227,746 391,466 
		
	
	
		
			  Renewable energy generation 
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 East Midlands 45,829 934,932 0 861,000 1,319.009 
			 East of England 0 3,536,000 0 1,186,846 524,318 
			 London 477,000 304,500 0 695,034 0 
			 North East 3,783,538 130,286 1.044,843 0 1,344,915 
			 North West 94,250 1,015,778 0 0 0 
			 N Ireland 0 42,170 0 0 0 
			 Scotland 3,694,436 235,861 1,025,866 0 777,473 
			 South East 971,530 4,773,644 0 1,689,108 4,738,025 
			 South West 5,208,057 1,308,367 605,159 1,484,967 0 
			 Wales 0 0 574,802 0 0 
			 West Midlands 400,000 81,966 0 1,140,926 0 
			 Yorkshire 27,250 403,728 0 227,746 391,466 
		
	
	
		
			  Energy transmission 
			   
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 East Midlands 0 0 0 1,226,397 704,874 
			 East of England 0 324,892 0 0 0 
			 London 0 0 0 661,534 0 
			 North East 724,625 173,843 1,067,876 184,523 32,000 
			 North West 130,089 24,322 687,072 212,721 0 
			 N Ireland 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Scotland 0 242,399 111,479 0 490,000 
			 South East 0 481,983 0 0 0 
			 Southwest 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 
			 West Midlands 119,587 0 2,300,000 0 0 
			 Yorkshire 0 0 0 0 0

Higher Education: Finance

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what options, other than reducing funding on students studying for an equivalent or lower qualification, were presented by the Higher Education Funding Council for England as alternative ways to raise funding for new higher education priorities.

Bill Rammell: The Government considered a number of policy options in the course of the comprehensive spending review, as would be expected. We decided to alter the rules for the payment of teaching grant to give a greater priority to first-time students in higher education because this is intrinsically a fairer way to spend public money, and because doing so is consistent with our ambitions for higher level skills and increased access to higher education. Other ways of releasing more funding to support new students would have been providing less money for student support; reducing the unit of funding for teaching; or cutting back, on funding for research.

Maize Production in Africa

Robert Walter: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment his Department made of the accuracy of the statement by the Chief Scientific Adviser broadcast on 27 November 2007 that the push-pull system of maize production in Africa involved genetically modified crops; what steps his Department took to correct the elements of the statement which have been demonstrated to be inaccurate; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 16 July 2008
	In the Daily Mail on 18 December 2007, the then Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir David King was reported as acknowledging that he had made an honest mistake about the push-pull system of maize production. The technique, which has been developed by Rothamsted Research and local research institutes in Africa, does not currently involve genetic modification of the crops. Under the technique, repellent crops are planted between the rows of maize to drive the stemborer pests away from the maize (push) in combination with plants around the field that attract stemborers away from the maize (pull). Rothamsted Research reports that trials in Kenya and Uganda have helped participating farmers increase their maize yields by 20 to 50 per cent.
	One of the push plants also controls a parasitic plant, the African witchweed, that otherwise causes even greater crop losses. The genetic basis of the mechanism is being studied by Rothamsted Research and its African collaborators under new funding from the Department for International Development and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

Space Technology

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the sterling value of the UK space industry was in  (a) 1998 and  (b) 2007.

Ian Pearson: A biennial study of the UK space industry is undertaken by the British National Space Centre. The nearest available figures for the total turnover of the UK space industry are 3 billion and 4.8 billion for 1999-2000 and 2004-05 respectively.

Space Technology

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what proportion of the global market for space products and satellite-enabled services he estimates will be provided by UK enterprises by 2015.

Ian Pearson: No estimate of the proportion of the global space market that will be provided by UK enterprises by 2015 has been made. The British National Space Centre (BNSC) undertakes a biennial survey of the UK space industry and the latest published results, which are for 2004-05, indicate that the UK share of the global market at that time was 7 per cent. The UK Civil Space Strategy 2008-12 published earlier this year contains an objective to grow the UK share by 2015. This is a challenging objective as the market itself is growing at between 12 and 15 per cent. per year.

Space Technology

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the British National Space Centre's UK Civil Space Strategy in encouraging exports of British technology and high value-added services.

Ian Pearson: A biennial study of the UK space industry is undertaken by the British National Space Centre (BNSC). The latest information available is for the year 2004-05 and shows sales outside the UK at 1.28 billion. BNSC works with industry and UKTI through its Trade Promotion and International Collaboration advisory group to provide effective support to industry in export markets.

Students: Loans

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was repaid to graduates who  (a) were paying off their loans and  (b) had paid off their loans as a result of overpayments to the student loans company in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 15 May 2008
	The number of student loan borrowers who have received refunds for over-repayments made in each year since 2001 are set out in Table A.
	Table B shows that the number of borrowers making over-repayments from 2001-02 to 2006-07 amounted to 3 per cent. of all borrowers making repayments over this period. The table also shows the amount refunded to borrowers who over-repaid over the same period amounted to just 1 per cent. of the total amounts repaid by all student loan borrowers.
	There are a variety of circumstances why borrowers overpay but this mainly occurs when loans come to the end of repayment. Over-repayments from mortgage style borrowers will only arise once their loan has been cleared where the borrower has failed to cancel repayment arrangements with their bank.
	For student loan borrowers with income contingent repayment loans, repayments are predominantly made through the tax system. Due to the time lag in the Student Loans Company (SLC) receiving information from HM Revenue and Customs it is possible for borrowers to over-repay before the SLC becomes aware that their repayments should stop.
	Where the pattern of payments shows that repayment will be completed during the coming year, the SLC invites borrowers to get in touch to discuss when repayments should stop. Borrowers are then able to make manual repayments. If they do not respond promptly to the SLC, or ignore the invitation, they will probably overpay.
	From June this year the SLC is introducing a new website facility specifically for repaying customers. This will give borrowers the ability to view their most current statement and it will also give them the chance to calculate their balance based on what they can see in their payslips.
	The SLC is working on further improving the loan end process and has been asked to put in place arrangements which will reduce the number of borrowers over-repaying at the end of repayment. Those arrangements, which are likely to be voluntary, are expected to be in place towards the end of next year.
	Any borrower who has repaid, should contact the SLC immediately to obtain a full refund with interest. All refunds include interest at the same (Retail Price Index) rate that was charged on the loan.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of student loan borrowers who have received refunds due to making over-repayments 
			   (a) Borrowers paying off their loan  (b) Borrowers who have paid off their loan   
			  Financial year  Number overpaying  Amount  repaid ()  Number overpaying  Amount repaid ()  Total number of borrowers receiving refunds for overpayments  Total refund amounts () 
			 2001-02 12,300 1,569,000 3,600 394,000 15,900 1,963,000 
			 2002-03 10,000 1,472,000 4,700 853,000 14,700 2,325,000 
			 2003-04 6,300 982,000 10,800 2,563,000 17,600 3,545,000 
			 2004-05 6,300 934,000 12,000 4,439,000 18,300 5,374,000 
			 2005-06 5,600 580,000 19,400 6,898,000 25,000 7,679,000 
			 2006-07 4,100 588,000 15,400 8,230,000 19,600 8,817,000 
			 2007-08 2,800 434,000 19,900 12,643,000 22,700 13,077,000 
			 Total 48,100 6,759,000 85,700 36,021,000 133,779 42,780,000 
			  Notes:  1. Includes all customers (income contingent and mortgage style) who have passed their Statutory Repayment Due Date (SRDD) irrespective of their current status.  2. English domiciled customers only.   Source:  Student Loans Company 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Total number of borrowers who have overpaid expressed as a percentage of all borrowers making repayments and total refunds as a percentage of all repayments 
			   Number of borrowers making overpayments  Total number of borrowers making payments  Borrowers overpaying as a percentage of all borrowers making repayments  Total refund amounts ()  Total amounts repaid ()  Refunds as a percentage of all repayments 
			 2001-02 15,900 645,600 2 1,963,000 392,710,000 1 
			 2002-03 14,700 666,700 2 2,325,000 462,909,000 1 
			 2003-04 17,600 698,700 3 3,545,000 525,979,000 1 
			 2004-05 18,300 718,900 3 5,374,000 542,577,000 1 
			 2005-06 25,000 670,500 4 7,679,000 548,585,000 1 
			 2006-07 19,600 793,400 3 8,817,000 585,214,000 2 
			 Total 111,600 4,193,800 3 29,703,000 3,057,974,000 1 
			  Notes:  1. Includes all customers (income contingent and mortgage style) who have passed their Statutory Repayment Due Date (SRDD) irrespective of their current status.  2. English domiciled customers only.   Source:  Student Loans Company

Trade Associations

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when his Department plans to publish the results of the consultation on the introduction of representative actions for trade associations which began in 2006.

Ian Pearson: The Patent Office (now the UK Intellectual Property Office) consulted on Representative Actions for the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in 2006, and this consultation closed in December 2006. A variety of views were expressed in response. However further work on this area needs to take account of the outcome of an inter-departmental consultation planned by he Ministry of Justice on the subject of representative actions. Decisions on the way forward following the IPO's consultation will need to await the outcome of the work to be carried by MOJ.

Universities: Post Offices

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the use that  (a) international and  (b) disabled students make of post office branches located on university campuses.

Bill Rammell: The Department holds no records of the number of post office branches on university campuses nor of their usage by students.

HEALTH

Colorectal Cancer: Screening

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients screened were found to have bowel cancer in each month since the start of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme, broken down by  (a) screening centre and  (b) sex;
	(2)  how many patients screened were found to have polyps in each month since the start of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme, broken down by  (a) screening centre and  (b) sex;
	(3)  how many patients screened were referred for a colonoscopy as a result of a positive faecal occult blood test in each month since the start of the NHS bowel cancer screening programme, broken down by  (a) screening centre and  (b) sex.

Ann Keen: As at 25 May 2008, 749,710 men and women had completed a bowel screening testing kit as part of the programme. Information on the number of colonoscopies and other tests performed, number of polyps removed and number of bowel cancers diagnosed in each month since the start of the NHS Bowel Screening Programme broken down by screening centre has been placed in the Library. It is not currently possible to break this information down by gender.

Dementia

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people resident in registered care homes for the elderly in  (a) Ribble Valley constituency,  (b) Lancashire and  (c) England and Wales had dementia in each year since 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Dementia: Health Services

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government have taken to improve NHS healthcare services for dementia sufferers.

Ivan Lewis: Dementia is a Government priority and we are presently consulting on a draft national dementia strategy and implementation plan. Also through our 'Let's Respect' campaign, which provides comprehensive guidance and training for general hospital staff, we aim to raise awareness and improve standards of care for people with dementia in hospital settings.

Dental Services: Waiting Lists

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were waiting for NHS dental treatment in Plymouth Primary Care Trust area in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of people waiting for national health service dental treatment is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to make local arrangements to support patients in accessing NHS dental services. My hon. Friend may therefore wish to raise this issue with the Chief Executive of Plymouth Teaching PCT.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Arm's length body  Property name  Town  Holding name  Lease expiry date 
			 Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) South Point, Cardinal Square Derby Ground Floor 14 November 2011 
			 CSCI The Point Lincoln Whole building (Ground and 1st Floor) 21 February 2012 
			 CSCI Fairfax House Colchester First Floor offices and 17 car spaces 26 October 2010 
			 CSCI Clifton House Bedford Ground floor 27 September 2011 
			 CSCI St Vincent's House Ipswich Fifth Floor 22 November 2011 
			 CSCI Cavell House Norwich Third Floor 23 November 2011 
			 CSCI Caledonia House Pentonville 3rd and 4th Floor 28 September 2009 
			 CSCI Caledonia House Pentonville Lower Ground Floor 28 September 2009 
			 CSCI Ground Floor South, Centro Camden Ground Floor South 27 October 2010 
			 CSCI Aspect Gate Harrow Part 4th Floor 12 July 2011 
			 CSCI Northumbria House Cramlington 1st( )Floor 3 February 2012 
			 CSCI Burlington House Liverpool Unit 2F, Burlington House 20 September 2011 
			 CSCI 10 Duke Street Liverpool 10 Duke Street, Liverpool 24 March 2012 
			 CSCI Oakland House Manchester Office suite within multi-let building 28 June 2009 
			 CSCI International House Ashford International House 6 September 2011 
			 CSCI Overline House Southampton Part 4th Floor 24 December 2011 
			 CSCI Avonbridge House Chippenham Suite CPost 1 August 2001Whole holding 5 September 2010 
			 CSCI Linhay Business Park Ashburton Unit D1 14 February 2012 
			 CSCI Lansdowne Court Gloucester 1st Floor, Unit 1210 12 September 2011 
			 CSCI Coventry Point Coventry Part 5th Floor 14 November 2011 
			 CSCI Chapter House South Shrewsbury 1st Floor 28 September 2011 
			 CSCI 178 Widemarsh Street Hereford Single storey unit 17 November 2011 
			 Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence Kierran Cross London First Floor 24 December 2010 
			 General Social Care Council Goldings House Southwark 1(st), 2nd and 3rd Floor and three car parking spaces 25 September 2011 
			 Health Protections Agency (HPA) Springfield House Grantham Springfield House 29 February 2009 
			 HPA Imperial Building Nottingham Offices 22 October 1999 
			 HPA Holborn Gate West End 7th Floor 24 December 2010 
			 HPA Holborn Gate West End Sub-Basement Storage Room No. 3 24 December 2010 
			 HPA Holborn Gate West End Car Parking Licence for 3CPS 24 December 2010 
			 HPA Holborn Gate West End Car Parking Licence for 6CPS 24 December 2010 
			 HPA Belfast City Hospital Belfast CDSCNorthern Ireland 31 March 2009 
			 HPA Moorgate Point Liverpool Suite E 31 January 2009 
			 HPA D B H House Liverpool Rooms 103-112 1st Floor 31 December 2008 
			 HPA MRC Harwell (Building 371) Didcot CHaPD-Harwell 25 September 2008 
			 HPA Tamar Science Park Plymouth Unit N20 12 September 2008 
			 HPA Colchester Avenue Campus Cardiff CHAPDCardiff 28 September 2004 Holding over 
			 HPA Birmingham Research Park Birmingham CHAPDBirmingham 3 August 2008 
			 HPA Russell House Dudley Black Country HPU 31 August 2008 
			 HPA Meadow Court Sheffield South Yorkshire HPU 30 June 2012 
			 HPA Innovation Centre York North Yorkshire HPU 30 September 2008 
			 Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Market Towers Battersea Floors 6 to 21 inclusive (6 to 21 Block A and 6 to 16 Block B) + 30cps + GF waste store 24 December 2011 
			 MHRA Market Towers Battersea Part ground floor offices, Block B (south) 24 November 2011 
			 MHRA Market Towers Battersea Second floor (South and North Wings) offices 24 December 2011 
			 MHRA Market Towers Battersea Part fourth floor (South Wing) offices 24 December 2011 
			 MHRA Market Towers Battersea Part Fifth Floor, Block A (North) 24 December 2011 
			 NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency (NHS PASA) Premier House Reading Whole building 29 April 2010 
			 NHS PASA Millennium House Sheffield Ground floor and exclusive right to park over one half of the forecourt 29 January 2009

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has worked hard, with its contractors, to reduce the amount of waste it produces. Between 2004-05 and 2006-07 our overall waste arisings reduced by some 60 per cent. from 996 tonnes to 393 tonnes.
	All our general waste is removed from site and sent to a materials recycling facility, where it is segregated into different waste streams. This system has contributed to a very high recycling rate, achieving 90 per cent. in 2006-07.
	Information for 2007-08 is not currently available.

Depression: Elderly

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research he has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the relationship between dark evenings and depression in the elderly.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has not carried out research on the relationship between dark evenings and depression in the elderly.

Depressive Illnesses: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government has taken to improve treatment for people with depression.

Ivan Lewis: The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Programme seeks to deliver improved access to psychological therapies for people who require the help of mental health services for mild to moderate depression. It also responds to service user's requests for more personalised services based around their individuals needs.
	It will test the effectiveness of providing increases in evidence based psychological therapy services to people with 'common' mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, in providing improvements in health, well-being and in maintaining people or returning people to employment and community participation.
	The Government announced significant funding for the programme to create new local psychological therapy services around the country on 10 October 2007: 33 million in 2008-09, 103 million in 2009-10 to 173 million in 2010-11. This is new money to expand evidence-based psychological therapies services. Primary care trusts were already spending 146 million on psychological therapies services.

Epilepsy: Pupils

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that every school pupil with epilepsy has an individual education plan.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The Special Educational Needs (SEN) code of practice gives statutory guidance to schools, LAs and others on meeting children's special educational needs.
	The code makes clear that a medical diagnosis, such as epilepsy, does not necessarily imply that a child has an SEN, although, of course, children with epilepsy may also have an SEN.
	The code recommends individual education plans (iEPs) as a way of setting short-term targets for pupils and recording outcomes. Schools are not under a statutory duty to use IEPs for pupils with SEN, but if they make other arrangements to set targets for these pupils they should be able to demonstrate that those arrangements are equally as good, if not better.

Food Standards Agency

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the establishment of a local better regulation office on the work of the Food Standards Agency.

Dawn Primarolo: On 15 May 2007, the Government issued a consultation on the draft Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill which covered the establishment of the Local Better Regulation Office (LBRO). At its open meeting on 19 July 2007, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) Board discussed the extent to which the establishment of the LBRO might affect the delivery of consumer protection in relation to food and drink by the FSA directly, by the Meat Hygiene Service as the FSA's Executive agency or through the FSA's enforcement partners in local authorities. Following the meeting, the FSA Chair submitted a formal response to the consultation, covering the most significant points. Copies of the response has been placed in the Library and can also be found on the FSA's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/breletter070801.pdf
	The FSA's views on the draft Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill have been placed in the Library and has also been published on the FSA's website at:
	www.food.gov.uk/foodindustry/regulation/betregs/compliance/renfsancbill
	The FSA supports the establishment of the LBRO to promote efficient and effective local regulatory services as a part of its wider commitment to better regulation. The FSA is currently working very closely with the LBRO to produce a memorandum of understanding that clarifies how they work alongside one another in the future. The memorandum of understanding will be in place within six months after the enactment of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill. The FSA remains committed to engaging with the LBRO to maintain the protection of public health.

Game: Licensing

Angela Browning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many full-time equivalent staff are employed by the Food Standards Agency in the licensing of establishments processing wild game;
	(2)  how many  (a) wild game processors and  (b) catering butchers dealing in wild game were licensed in (i) 2006, (ii) 2007 and (iii) 2008;
	(3)  what steps his Department has taken to identify the location of premises of unlicensed  (a) wild game processors and  (b) catering butchers processing wild game;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of  (a) licensed and  (b) unlicensed (i) wild game processors and (ii) catering butchers dealing in wild game which operate in compliance with EU regulations.

Dawn Primarolo: We have been advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that there are 6.5 veterinary meat hygiene advisers employed in Great Britain to undertake visits to premises handling wild game to assess whether those premises meet the requirements for approval as set out in European Union Hygiene Regulations.
	In 2006, there were 55 game handling establishments approved to process wild game. In 2007, there were 74 such establishments and at the end of May 2008 there were also 74. The FSA is unable to provide information as to how many catering butchers deal in wild game. There are currently 139 catering butchers under local authority control and which the FSA is in the process of assessing for approval as cutting plants under the Hygiene Regulations. Those that meet the necessary requirements will be approved by the FSA for cutting meat and for processing game if any carry out such processes and they will then fall under the control of the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS).
	When the new Hygiene Regulations came into force the FSA asked local authorities to identify those premises processing wild game so that they could be identified as premises that would require FSA approval. This was not straightforward as there are a number of exemptions from approval that apply for businesses supplying the local market with small quantities directly to consumers.
	The FSA has made no estimate of the proportion of businesses that process wild game or catering butchers which process wild game that are compliant with the EU Hygiene Regulations, whether they require approval or not. All premises processing wild game are subject to hygiene controls carried out by either the MHS in approved premises, or by local authorities in non-approved premises.

General Practitioners

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support his Department makes available to general practitioner practices to support a transition to practice-based commissioning.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department provides a national framework for practice-based commissioning which sets clear expectations of PCTs to provide a range of support necessary to allow practices to engage fully with practice-based commissioning. The Practice Based Commissioning: Practical Implementation guidance document published in November 2006 describes the nature of support that PCTs should provide to practice-based commissioners, such as budgetary, analytical and management support. The precise level of support necessary will vary from practice to practice.
	The NHS Next Stage Review: Our vision for Primary and Community Care strategy has also set out how practice based commissioning is central to our ambitions for health improvement and high quality care. The document outlines the Department's intention to work with the NHS and with the professions to reinvigorate the implementation of practice based commissioning, and set out a package of measures to support this.

Health Services: Non-profit Making Associations

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which primary care trusts which have commissioned clinical services from groups of former NHS employees have set up as social enterprise companies or third sector organisations.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not collect information on primary care trusts, which have commissioned clinical services from social enterprises or third sector organisations set up by former NHS employees.

Health Services: Young Offenders

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people in  (a) Ashfield and  (b) Huntercombe young offender institution were transferred to St. Andrew's hospital, Northampton in each year since 2000.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	Two young people have been transferred from Huntercombe to St. Andrew's; one in 2004 and one in 2007. The information for Ashwell is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Health Services: Private Sector

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients resident in Milton Keynes have been referred to a private hospital for an operation in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not collected in the format requested. Information is available on national health service funded first finished consultant episodes (FFCEs) for Milton Keynes Primary Care Trust (PCT), carried out by United Kingdom independent sector and overseas providers, including independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs).
	The following table shows this information for the last three years.
	
		
			  Independent sector inpatient activity, Milton Keynes PCT, 2005-06 to 2007-08 (Commissioner based) 
			   General and Acute 
			   Elective FFCEs carried out by UK independent sector and overseas providers  Elective FFCEs carried out by ISTCs 
			 2005-06 1,558 223 
			 2006-07 1,407 5,012 
			 2007-08 1,450 1,706 
			  Source:  Department of Health Quarterly Activity Return, Local Delivery Plan Return, Department of Health Monthly Activity Return, Monthly Monitoring Return.

Hospital Beds: Young People

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assessment and treatment beds were commissioned for young people in each year since 2000.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally.
	Commissioning for local health services is the responsibility of local primary care trusts (PCTs). PCT commissioners are responsible for assessing local health needs and meeting these needs through strategic planning and contracting with local health care providers. Recognising that PCTs' commissioning decisions are crucial to improve the population's health and well-being, the Department has launched the World Class Commissioning Programme, which aims to improve commissioning across the national health service.
	The programme includes a commissioning assurance system that holds PCTs to account and rewards performance and development as they move towards world class. While commissioning decisions will rightly remain at local level, this national framework of assurance will ensure that all PCTs across the NHS are employing the very best commissioning processes to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequalities.

Hospitals

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many hospitals  (a) opened and  (b) closed in each primary care trust area between 2002-03 and 2007-08;
	(2)  how many hospitals  (a) opened and  (b) closed in each health authority area between 1997-98 and 2002-03.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the number of new hospital schemes which opened in each strategic health authority (SHA) from 1997-98 to 2002-03 is shown in the table. Information on which primary care trusts (PCTs) these hospital schemes opened in is not held centrally but the list includes schemes commissioned directly by PCTs.
	Information on hospital closures is not held centrally.
	
		
			  Date opened  SHA  National health service trust  Capital value   ( million) 
			 30 March 2000 London Queen Mary's Sidcup NHS Trust 21 
			 10 April 2000 North West North Cumbria Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 67 
			 1 August 2000 North West Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 24 
			 11 September 2000 South East Coast Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust 94 
			 1 October 2000 East Midlands Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust 17 
			 17 October 2000 South Central Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust 45 
			 31 January 2001 South East Coast Sussex Partnerships NHS Trust 22 
			 1 February 2001 Yorkshire and the Humber Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 24 
			 28 February 2001 London Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust 96 
			 2 April 2001 North East County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Dryburn) 61 
			 8 April 2001 Yorkshire and the Humber Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust 65 
			 25 July 2001 North West University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Trust 67 
			 1 September 2001 West Midlands North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust 28 
			 21 September 2001 East of England Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals 158 
			 1 March 2002 West Midlands Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust 64 
			 2 March 2002 London Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 54 
			 4 March 2002 London North East London Mental Health NHS Trust 11 
			 18 March 2002 West Midlands Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust 87 
			 18 March 2002 West Midlands Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 18 
			 1 June 2002 South West Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust 10 
			 8 June 2002 North East County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Bishop Aukland) 48 
			 11 June 2002 London East London and The City Mental Health NHS Trust 15 
			 27 July 2002 South Central Royal Berkshire NHS Trust 84 
			 9 September 2002 East of England Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Trust 15 
			 7 October 2002 London King's College Hospital NHS Trust 76 
			 7 October 2002 South East Coast Eastern and Coastal Kent Teaching Primary Care Trust 14 
			 3 December 2002 South West Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust 100 
			 16 December 2002 Yorkshire and the Humber Leeds Mental Health Teaching NHS Trust 47 
			 25 March 2003 North East Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust 18 
			 29 March 2003 London Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust 118 
			 29 March 2003 Yorkshire and the Humber Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust 22 
			 28 April 2003 East of England East and North Hertfordshire Primary Care Trust 15 
			 29 April 2003 South Central Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust 30 
			 16 May 2003 London West Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust 60 
			 23 June 2003 West Midlands Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust 13 
			 12 July 2003 North East Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust 55 
			 1 August 2003 North East South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 122 
			 11 September 2003 London St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust 46 
			 1 October 2003 London Camden Primary Care Trust 26 
			 1 November 2003 South East Coast Surrey Primary Care Trust 29 
			 18 November 2003 North East County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (Chester-le-Street) 10

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to consult primary care trusts to ensure they have sufficient staff to meet the 18-week waiting time commitment;
	(2)  at what point of treatment the 18-week waiting time initiative begins; and whether it will be extended to specialised services;
	(3)  what support and guidance will be provided by his Department to primary care trusts in England in relation to the implementation of the 18-week waiting time initiative; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  whether his Department's 18-week waiting time initiative will be extended to infertility services; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The maximum 18-week waiting time applies as a national standard from 1 January 2009 onwards. The 18-week target applies to the whole period from receipt of referral made by a general practitioner or other care professional to any consultant-led service, including infertility services. There are no national plans at present to extend the scope of the 18 weeks referral to treatment target.
	To support primary care trusts (PCTs) in delivery of 18 weeks a service transformation strategy has been put in place. This includes publishing 18 weeks commissioning top tips and 42 model 18 weeks commissioning pathways. These pathways support PCTs in commissioning the most effective services for their patients. The Department has provided a range of guidance including national 18 week clock rules, definitions and guides on how to apply and measure 18 week rules locally.
	An 18 weeks intensive support team has been established to assist local health communities deliver the 18-week target by the end of December 2008. Copies of a step by step guide has been placed in the Library. Comprehensive information and resources on the support available to the NHS is available on a dedicated website,
	http://www.18weeks.nhs.uk/
	It is the responsibility of PCTs working with the strategic health authority to ensure they have sufficient staff to deliver the 18-weeks target at a local level.

Injuries

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been hospitalised following injuries caused by  (a) seagulls,  (b) pigeons,  (c) rats and  (d) other pests in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: This information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the number of finished admission episodes (FAE) for those bitten by a rat in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	
		
			   Admission episodes( 1) 
			 2006-07 27 
			 2005-06 18 
			 2004-05 23 
			 2003-04 21 
			 2002-03 21 
			 (1) FAE: A FAE is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider.  Notes: 1. Assignment of Episodes to Years Years are assigned by the end of the first period of care in a patient's hospital stay. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year. 2. Cause CodeRat Bites* The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. *Rat Bites: W5Bitten by rat 3. Data Quality HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 national health service trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  4. Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be counted in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  5. Ungrossed Data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The Information Centre for health and social care

Learning Disability

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of people with learning disabilities; what assessment he has made of the age distribution of such people; and what estimate he has made of likely equivalent figures for  (a) 2018 and  (b) 2028;
	(2)  what research the Government have commissioned on the long-term care needs of people with learning disabilities.

Ivan Lewis: The Department has commissioned the Personal Social Services Research Unit at the London School of Economics (LSE) to undertake an initial study of the projected future trends in numbers of people with learning disabilities aged 18 to 65, and possible changes to their support arrangements. This is due for completion at the end of July this year and the LSE research team is in discussion with other experts in the field about ways in which a more extensive study could be made of the number, characteristics and needs of this population group. Should this more extensive project be undertaken, it would provide better intelligence of the current and future age profile of the population.

Mental Health Services: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to introduce a compulsory kitemark system of accreditation for all in-patient psychiatric wards.

Ivan Lewis: There are many different ways of achieving service improvement and achieving better service user outcomes in acute care without the need for mandatory accreditation. One example is 'star wards', a service user led initiative which focuses on improving service user experience and engagement when admitted, has been very successful in getting staff and service user ownership and action in improving service user experience in inpatient psychiatric wards.
	The Government are also awaiting the results and recommendations of the Healthcare Commission's acute inpatient review, whose national report is due for publication in the summer. The review drew out four key themes: examining whether services had effective care pathways in place regarding admissions and discharges; provided individualised care which promoted recovery and inclusion; had service user and carer involvement in care planning, operational and strategic planning; and had systems, processes and facilities in place to ensure the safety of service users, visitors and staff.

Muscular Dystrophy: Children

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children have been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) nationally in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: Information on the number of children diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy is not collected centrally.

NHS Treatment Centres: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 300W, on NHS treatment centres: Christchurch, when he expects the former NHS health centre in Saxon Square, Christchurch, to be brought back into use; and how much he expects to be paid in empty property rates before that date.

Ann Keen: The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch NHS Foundation Trust has now decided it does not wish to bring the property back into use. Options for the early disposal of the Secretary of State's interest in the property are now being explored. The empty property rates payable in 2008-09 amount to 24,024.

NHS: Equality

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will take steps to ensure that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are not discriminated against in the delivery of NHS services;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to ensure that lesbian, gay and bisexual people employed by the NHS are not discriminated against.

Ivan Lewis: The Government are committed to eliminating discrimination and promoting equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people working in or accessing services in health and social care.
	The Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003) outlawing discrimination in the workplace on the grounds of sexual orientation came into force in December 2003 and any staff who consider they have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation now have legal recourse. In the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2007) the Government outlawed discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in the provision of goods and services. This means that the national health service is legally prohibited from discriminating. We also intend to broaden the duty on public sector organisations to promote equality and eliminate discrimination to cover sexual orientation in the forthcoming Equality Bill.
	While it is for individual organisations in the NHS to ensure that they meet legal and ethical requirements towards those employed by them or using their services, the Department has an important role in supporting them and disseminating knowledge in this area. The Department is encouraging NHS organisations to move towards a single equality approach, and will this summer publish guidance on sexual orientation as a strand within their single equality schemes.
	The Department has worked with its external stakeholder committee, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advisory Group (SOGIAG), to produce a number of resources and guidance documents on employment, healthcare and sexual orientation. The Department has also sponsored a number of conferences on issues affecting LGB people in healthcare.
	We are in the process of refreshing SOGIAG with a new appointments process for members. From September we will be taking forward a new programme of policy work to reduce health inequalities for LGB people.
	The Department also assesses all new policies for their impact on people with different sexual orientations as part of its equality impact assessment process.

NHS: Information

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in the  (a) current and  (b) planned initiatives announced by the NHS Information Centre in its presentation to the Inaugural Supplier Forum of 7 November 2007 with regard to (i) the NHS Operating Framework, (ii) NHS comparators, (iii) practice-level prescribing data, (iv) compendium of health outcome indicators, (v) GP data extraction service, (vi) electronic staff record, (vii) financial indicators, (viii) mental health minimum dataset and (ix) social care; what new information he anticipates the NHS Information Centre making available to (A) the NHS, (B) other care providers and (C) the public as a result of each of these initiatives; with which stakeholders has the Information Centre consulted in its development of these initiatives; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) aims to be the recognised source of relevant information to improve decision making in health and social care. This includes information to support activities and initiatives set out in the 'National Health Service Operating Framework', particularly around ensuring the secondary user service (SUS) becomes the standard repository for activity for performance management, reconciliation and payment by April 2009.
	NHS comparators service has been developed with NHS Connecting for Health to provide a facility for NHS registered users to compare general practitioner (GP) practice-level data on hospital admissions and the quality and outcomes framework. We have expanded the range of information. Currently there are over 4,000 users registering over 80 per cent. satisfaction with the service.
	The IC has produced a prescribing data consultation document entitled 'Wider release of NHS prescribing data' (copies of this publication have been placed in the Library) which includes a feedback form and the closing date for returns is 8 August. The consultation results will then be published and any subsequent initiatives will depend on the results.
	The compendium of health outcomes service has been re-procured and provides web-based information. This service will be developed to support the needs and requirements of users, particularly those involved in commissioning care.
	The IC in collaboration with NHS Connecting for Health is preparing to procure a GP data extraction service (GPES). Following strict governance guidelines, GPES will co-ordinate approved data extractions from GP computer systems nationwide and provide high-quality analyses. The results will support the development of national and local policies for future patient led services. It is currently consulting with stakeholders prior to a procurement exercise.
	The IC has also developed, with the Department, a number of work force financial indicators to support the comparative use of electronic staff record information. This is a web-based application which has been piloted by organisations within NHS across the Yorkshire and Humberside areas and is now being rolled out nationally.
	There have been significant problems in enabling mental health minimum dataset data to flow into SUS. These problems have meant that the publication planned for April 2008 has been delayed and no data have yet been received or processed. SUS functionality is being developed for implementation later this year to enable data to be available via SUS in 2009. An interim, alternative solution is currently being tested for receipt of annual data only but we are not yet able to confirm the timetable for delivery of the data.
	The provision of new social care data will shortly commence a formal, three-month consultation, in line with national statistics requirements, in connection with a substantive review of current social care collections and publications.

NHS: Managers

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's accounting guidelines are on the declaration of the pay received during the tenure of acting chief executives of NHS trusts who were recruited through employment agencies.

Ann Keen: Sir Nigel Crisp, then chief executive of the national health service, wrote to chairs of NHS organisations on 27 March 2003 asking them to strongly encourage all senior staff to give their consent for information about their remuneration to be included in the accounts. This letter made clear the Department's view that people paid from the public purse should expect to be completely open about how much they are paid. This message was reiterated in a further letter to chairs, on 19 June 2003, which asked them to monitor progress on the disclosure of this information.

NHS: Private Sector

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions since 2001 the breach of a contract between NHS organisation and a private sector provider of clinical services has been referred to the courts; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: National health service organisations are legally distinct entities and the Department would not, as a matter of course, be involved in contractual disputes between them and private sector companies. The Department therefore does not collect information centrally on contractual disputes that are referred to the courts.
	With regard to centrally procured contracts by the Department for clinical services under the Independent Sector Treatment Centre Programme, no breach of contract has been referred to the courts.

NHS: Reorganisation

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the Ministerial responsibilities are of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, Lord Darzi, following publication of the NHS Next Stage Review final report.

Alan Johnson: Lord Darzi's ministerial portfolio covers the NHS Next Stage Review. He is currently looking at implementation plans.

NHS: Standards

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what EU healthcare benchmarks he takes into account when assessing the National Health Service as a provider of health care.

Dawn Primarolo: No European Union benchmarks are used when performance assessing the national health service. As set out in High Quality Care For All: NHS Next Stage Review Final Report (copies of which are already available in the Library), we believe it is important for patients, staff and the public to be able to understand how we perform compared to other healthcare systems. To do this we plan to work with other Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries and with the best academic institutions in the world to agree some internationally comparable measures.

Obesity

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government plans to take to address health-related problems due to obesity.

Dawn Primarolo: In the six months since the 372 million Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a Cross Government Strategy for England was published there has been substantial progress. The forthcoming progress newsletter Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: six months on, will be published on 23 July 2008.
	The newsletter highlights the steps forward for the next six months across all five themes of the strategy: children, healthy growth and weight; promoting healthier food choices; building physical activity into our lives; creating incentives for better health; and personalised advice and support for all.

Occupational Therapy: Manpower

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified occupational therapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002.

Ann Keen: The number of qualified occupational therapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Qualified occupational therapists employed in NHS in England as at 30 September each year 
			   Headcount  FTE 
			 2002 14,749 12,541 
			 2003 15,391 13,053 
			 2004 16,371 13,879 
			 2005 16,743 14,099 
			 2006(1) 16,845 14,292 
			 2007 17,024 14,439 
			 (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507.  Source: Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce Census

Osteoporosis

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in including monitoring for osteoporosis within the Quality and Outcomes Framework.

Ben Bradshaw: The Secretary of State announced on 5 May that the Government are consulting the British Medical Association on proposals to invest an extra 100 million on improving clinical services and access for patients. The Government propose to invest an extra 50 million in enhanced clinical services, which would include improving the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis according to the best practice guidelines set out by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. The amount of investment in each area is subject to consultation with the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association.
	We expect the content of the Quality and Outcomes Framework for 2009-10 to be, as usual, a matter for consultation between NHS Employers and the British Medical Association, informed by the independent expert panel.

Physiotherapy: Manpower

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified physiotherapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002.

Ann Keen: The number of qualified physiotherapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Hospital and community health services: Qualified physiotherapists employed in the NHS in England as at 30 September each year 
			   Headcount  Full-time equivalents 
			 2002 16,885 13,586 
			 2003 17,922 14,455 
			 2004 19,139 15,564 
			 2005 19,997 16,291 
			 2006(1) 19,820 16,334 
			 2007 20,146 16,752 
			 (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507.  Source: Information Centre Non-medical Workforce Census

Prescriptions: Fees and Charges

David Heyes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to begin his consultation on prescription charges and exemptions; and whether that consultation will include the question of whether asthma should be added to the list of health conditions exempt from prescription charges.

Dawn Primarolo: We will publish our planned consultation on cost neutral changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions in England later this year. This will include proposals to change the current medical exemptions.

Speech Therapy: Manpower

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fully qualified speech therapists have been employed by the NHS in each year since 2002.

Ann Keen: The number of qualified speech and language therapists employed by the national health service in England in each year since 2002 as recorded in the National Workforce Census is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  NHS qualified speech and language therapists as at September each year (England) 
			   Headcount  Full-time equivalents 
			 2005 6,759 5,062 
			 2006(1) 6,623 5,149 
			 2007 6,742 5,299 
			 2002 5,960 4,365 
			 2003 6,243 4,707 
			 2004 6,556 4,973 
			 (1) More accurate validation in 2006 has resulted in 9,858 duplicate records being identified and removed from the non-medical census. (These 9,858 duplicate records, broken down by main staff group, are: 3,370 qualified nurses; 1,818 qualified scientific, therapeutic and technical staff; 2,719 support to doctors and nurses; 1,562 NHS infrastructure support; and 389 in other areas.) The impact of duplicates on full-time equivalent has been minimal with the removal of 507.  Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census

Surrey Primary Care Trust

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the membership of Surrey primary care trust's exceptional cases panel is;
	(2)  what criteria are used by Surrey primary care trust's exceptional cases panel to assess requests for exceptional funding;
	(3)  whether the exceptional cases panel of Surrey primary care trust accepts requests for funding exceptional cases from  (a) patients and  (b) clinicians.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not collected centrally. It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission services on behalf of their populations and to make decisions locally on which treatments to fund, taking into account all relevant circumstances. The hon. Member may therefore wish to raise these issues with the chief executive of Surrey PCT.
	The draft national health service constitution (copies of which have already been placed in the Library) makes clear the patient's right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs for which National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance is not available to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. To underpin this, the Government will require PCTs to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation.

Transsexuality

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of  (a) transgender procedures and  (b) gender reassignment; and what direction he gives to NHS trusts on the matter.

Ivan Lewis: The Department does not issue directions to primary care trusts (PCTs) on this matter. It is for PCTs to decide on the circumstances in which they will provide gender reassignment procedures, taking into account a patient's individual clinical needs and the resources they have available to provide health care for their wider population.

Transsexuality

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of a complete gender reassignment is; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: We are not able to provide the information requested, as cost data relating to these specific procedures are not centrally collected.

DEFENCE

Iraq

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the security situation in Iraq.

Des Browne: The security situation in Iraq has improved significantly since mid-2007 and, overall, acts of violence have reduced to levels last experienced in 2004. The transfer on 16 July of security responsibility for Qadisiyah province to Provincial Iraqi Control demonstrates the continuing improvement in security across the country.
	In southern Iraq, UK and coalition forces continue to support the Iraqi Security Forces as they consolidate the significant progress in security brought about by the operations launched in Basra in March.

Iraq

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on troop numbers in Iraq.

Des Browne: UK force levels in southern Iraq remain at around 4,000, operating in support of the Iraqi Security Forces in Basra. Our military commanders continue to assess the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow.
	The Prime Minister will make a further statement tomorrow, setting out our plans in Iraq.

Iraq

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his plans are for drawing down British forces in Iraq in 2008.

Des Browne: We assess that current troop levels in southern Iraq are appropriate to deliver our key military tasks, in particular completing the training and mentoring of the 14th Division of the Iraqi Army.
	Our military commanders continue to appraise the changing situation on the ground and it remains our clear intention to reduce troop numbers as and when conditions allow.
	The Prime Minister will make a further statement tomorrow, setting out our plans in Iraq.

Service Personnel: Benefits

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on arrangements for the payment of benefits for service personnel.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been regular discussions between MOD and Department for Work and Pensions Ministers on these matters.
	Indeed, last Thursday's White Paper The Nation's Commitment: Cross-Government Support to Our Armed Forces, their Families and Veterans delivered a series of improvements to the way in which benefits are administered for our service community. This followed a period of significant departmental collaboration.

Service Personnel: Accommodation

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent steps his Department has taken to improve the standard of accommodation provided for armed forces personnel.

Derek Twigg: It is a top priority that service personnel have the high quality accommodation they deserve.
	We plan to spend in excess of 8 billion on accommodation over the next 10 years.
	Since 2001, some 13,000 Service Family Accommodation properties have been upgraded to the top standard and 26,000 new or improved Single Living Accommodation bed-spaces have been delivered.

Defence Maritime Strategy

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department is taking to implement the defence maritime strategy.

Bob Ainsworth: We continue to make good progress in implementing the maritime element of the Defence Industrial Strategy.
	The formation of BVT Surface Fleet on 1 July, which brings together the shipyards at Portsmouth and on the Clyde under one management, and the signature of the contract to build the two Future Aircraft Carriers is a clear demonstration of this progress.
	The construction of the Carriers is a substantial boost to British industry and is expected to create or sustain 10,000 jobs across the UK at peak production, with around 1,000 jobs at each of the main shipyards. Along with the six T45 Destroyers, the Carriers will ensure a steady drumbeat of work in a shipyard for years to come.

Helicopters

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the provision of helicopters for operational service in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) and for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous).

Helicopters

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will increase the number of helicopters available for the use of UK troops in Afghanistan.

Des Browne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) and for South-West Bedfordshire (Andrew Selous).

Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many future medium helicopters his Department plans to order; and when they are due to enter service.

Bob Ainsworth: The Future Medium Helicopter project is currently in its concept phase. As with all Defence projects, it is not until Main Gate approval has been obtained that decisions such as final aircraft numbers and in-service dates are confirmed. It is therefore too early to determine the number of aircraft which will be procured or when they will come into service.

Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to extend the operational service life of the Puma HC1 helicopters beyond 2012-13.

Bob Ainsworth: An assessment phase contract was awarded in 2007 to Eurocopter to examine the scope to extend the service life of the Puma HC1. A decision on whether to extend the service life of the Puma beyond 2012 will not be taken until the Main Gate approval for this project.

Helicopters

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many search and rescue helicopters his Department plans to order in the next 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: The Ministry of Defence and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) are jointly undertaking the Search and Rescue Helicopter programme, which will deliver the future UK capability. This programme is currently in its assessment phase. As with all Defence projects, it is not until Main Gate approval has been obtained that details of the future service such as final aircraft numbers can be confirmed.

Veterans

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made on the regional pilots to improve mental health care for veterans.

Derek Twigg: NHS-led pilots are running at four sites offering a best practice, culturally sensitive, veterans' mental health service; another two will begin shortly. The service offers wider support of public and charitable providers and is being linked to the Government's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme. A current focus is raising awareness among local health professionals and potential clients. An evaluation team has been appointed with the aim that, in due course, best practice should be rolled out across the UK.

Afghanistan

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the security situation in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: The security situation in Afghanistan is stable if fragile in placesparticularly in the south and east of the country.
	We need to be clear that Afghanistan is not a safe environment for those seeking to bring it the opportunities and development that it so desperately needs. If it was we would not need the armed forces there to create the security space required for reconstruction and development.
	However, we should also be clear that, notwithstanding a number of tragic incidents in the past few weeks, and in the context of a difficult campaign, our military commanders assess that the underlying security dynamics in Afghanistan are slowly improving. In particular Helmand province is a considerably more secure and stable province than it was a year ago.
	Regardless of the difficulties aheadand there will be difficultiesI confidently expect that we will continue to make progress in our vital mission in Afghanistan with both the security and non-security lines of operation of our mission there.

Combined Cadet Force

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what support his Department gives to the combined cadet force to increase its membership.

Derek Twigg: The MOD is committed to the role that all Cadet forces play in society offering as they do a vast range of personal development and educational opportunities for young people. We support the combined Cadet forces alone with over 11 million of funding each year. The current pilot scheme for the expansion of the CCF, involving six schools, is well under way, and we are working closely with the Department for Children, Schools and Families in order to build on this success in the future.

Royal Army Medical Corps

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what pinch-points he has identified within the Royal Army Medical Corps.

Derek Twigg: There are a number of pinch points within the Royal Army Medical Corps. These range from emergency medicine nurses to anaesthetists.
	We are taking active steps to address the shortfalls, through a range of initiatives:
	pay is reviewed by the Independent Armed Forces Review Body;
	Golden Hellos are paid to direct entrants to specialist areas where there is greatest shortfall;
	financial retention initiatives are paid to nurses in operational pinch-point specialties;
	personnel are encouraged to train and remain in operational pinch-point specialties;
	medical deployments are managed on a tri-service basis; and
	reserves and civilian agency contractors are used where appropriate.

IT Systems

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the ATLAS consortium in delivering the contract to network the IT systems of his Department and the armed forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The performance of the ATLAS Consortium in delivering the Defence Information Infrastructure is continually assessed via the programme's comprehensive governance structure; general ATLAS performance is currently deemed satisfactory. Robust commercial arrangements ensure that payments to the ATLAS consortium reflect its performance and when appropriate, payment has been withheld. The Ministry of Defence and ATLAS have already made considerable progress, delivering accounts for over 100,000 users at over 500 Defence sites.

Departmental Projects

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the total cost overrun on projects sponsored by his Department which are under construction.

Bob Ainsworth: The current estimate of the total cost overrun on major equipment projects is 3,036 million. We have taken major equipment projects to be all those with a procurement value greater than 20 million that have passed their main investment decision point but yet to reach their In-Service Dates.

Armed Forces: Accidents

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many injuries to personnel have been sustained in transit as a result of  (a) collisions and  (b) other accidents in Snatch Landrovers since 2003.

Des Browne: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Cadets

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funding his Department has allocated to the  (a) army cadet force,  (b) air training corps and  (c) sea cadet corps for 2009-10.

Derek Twigg: The Ministry of Defence has planned for the following financial contributions to the Cadet Forces for the period 2009-10:
	
		
			
			 Sea Cadet Corps 8,558,000 
			 Army Cadet Force 43,262,000 
			 Air Training Corps 32,314,000 
			  Note: These figures are based on either bids for funding (Sea Cadet Corps and Army Cadet Force) or the likely bid (Air Training Corps) and therefore cannot yet be confirmed as allocated funding.

Armed Forces: Deployment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK personnel are deployed on operations at each location.

Des Browne: The following table shows the number of UK Service personnel deployed on operations by location at 6 July 2008. The number of personnel in theatre will naturally fluctuate on a daily basis for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	
		
			  Number of personnel deployed by location( 1) 
			  Location  Number 
			 Total 14,910 
			  of which:  
			 Afghanistan(2) 7,700 
			 Iraq(2) 4,300 
			 At sea 1,170 
			 Kosovo 440 
			 Qatar 410 
			 Cyprus 280 
			 Oman 280 
			 Kuwait 200 
			 Bahrain 70 
			 Yemen 20 
			 Bosnia 10 
			 Other 30 
			 (1) Countries with 10 or more personnel are shown separately. Other countries with fewer than 10 personnel per country include Georgia, Nepal, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia.  (2) Figures for Iraq and Afghanistan have been rounded to the nearest 100 for operational security reasons. Other figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Due to rounding methods used, the total may not equal the sum of the individual locations.

Armed Forces: Eyesight

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) opticians,  (b) ophthalmists and  (c) other eye specialists there are among defence medical personnel.

Derek Twigg: There is a tri-Service requirement for ophthalmic surgeons which is currently met by one Royal Navy, four Army and two RAF officers.

Armed Forces: Fuels

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the increase in his Department's expenditure on fuel costs in the last 12 months has arisen as a result of  (a) an increase in unit costs and  (b) an increase in the volume of fuel purchased.

Bob Ainsworth: It is not possible to determine precisely the proportion of the increase in the Department's expenditure on fuel(1) costs attributable to either volume or price. Over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08, however, fuel volumes consumed in Defence are estimated to have risen by around 5 per cent. Over the same period, the Department's expenditure on fuel rose by around 25 per cent., suggesting that price was the overwhelming factor in the increase in costs.
	(1 )Defined as petroleum-based liquid fuels meeting internationally recognised specifications that are used to power ships and vehicles.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's estimate is of the number of television sets installed in  (a) single living and  (b) service family accommodation in the UK.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civil actions have been brought against his Department relating to illnesses and injuries sustained  (a) on operations abroad and  (b) whilst serving in the UK in each year since 1997; and what the cost to the Department in each year was.

Derek Twigg: Claims are not recorded on the Department's claims database in a format that differentiates between illnesses and injuries sustained on operations abroad and while serving in the UK. However, the number of civil claims for personal injury brought against my Department by members of HM forces since 1997-98 is set out as follows. Financial data regarding the cost to my Department in terms of compensation and associated legal costs relating to this category of claimant are also set out as follows. A figure for 1997-98 is however unavailable due to the way such financial data were recorded at that time.
	
		
			   Service personnel personal injury claims  Compensation and associated legal costs ( million) 
			 2007-08 603 32.7 
			 2006-07 550 32.9 
			 2005-06 640 26.3 
			 2004-05 667 22.7 
			 2003-04 604 25 
			 2002-03 666 40 
			 2001-02 819 32.3 
			 2000-01 924 36.6 
			 1999-00 752 31 
			 1998-99 735 26.7 
			 1997-98 730

Armed Forces: Internet

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department made towards the target for the provision of wireless internet facilities for the Armed Forces by Easter 2008.

Bob Ainsworth: The introduction of the first wireless internet facility commenced in Camp Bastion on 15 May 2008. We currently anticipate that the roll out of WiFi facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan will be complete by the end of 2008.
	When the wireless project is completed, we expect that the ratio of internet connections to personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan will have improved from an average of one terminal to 50 personnel to an average of one terminal to 10 personnel where WiFi is available, a 400 per cent. increase.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate  (a) the number and  (b) the proportion of the population which has served at any time in the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD does not hold a figure for the total number of living ex-service personnel. Against the 2005 Royal British Legion estimate, we judge there to be some 4.5 million veterans. This would amount to approximately 7.5 per cent. of the UK population.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which regiment or battalion forms the Spearhead Land Element (SLE); whether it is fully equipped; whether the present SLE is deployed; when the future SLE will take over from the present SLE; and what unit will form the next SLE.

Bob Ainsworth: 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland form the Spearhead Land Element (SLE), which is not currently deployed. The SLE is fully equipped in accordance with the Joint Rapid Reaction Force directive and operational mounting instructions. The next SLE will be provided by the 2nd Battalion The Rifles, who will assume this role from 25 July 2008.

Armed Forces: Olympic Games

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces will be competing in the forthcoming Olympic games in China.

Derek Twigg: Three members of HM forces are due to compete in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. Two are competing from the Royal Navy, Lieutenant Peter Reed RN in the coxless fours and Lieutenant Commander Penny Clark RN in the dinghy sailing laser radial. Captain Alastair Heathcote from the Army will be in the rowing eights. All are competing for Great Britain.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) value of unclaimed armed forces' preserved pensions; and what steps he has taken to reconcile armed forces' preserved pensions with their beneficiaries.

Derek Twigg: Details of the number, and value of unclaimed preserved pensions are not held and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. There is no legislative requirement for the administrators of the armed forces pension scheme (AFPS) to trace individuals who have not claimed their preserved benefits.
	Personnel leaving the armed forces today receive information that clearly explains that it is their personal responsibility to claim their preserved pension at the appropriate time and provide information on how to do so. In addition, the veterans UK website contains helpful information and the issue is publicised at various MOD sponsored veteran's events held regularly throughout the UK. Furthermore, because this is a common situation across pension schemes the Department of Work and Pensions provides a free tracing service to members of pension schemes who have lost contact with earlier employers; the AFPS is registered with this service.

Defence Medical Services: Manpower

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the  (a) required and  (b) actual complement is of each medical personnel type in each branch of the armed forces of the Defence Medical Services;
	(2)  what the  (a) required and  (b) current strength of Defence Medical Services is, broken down by (i) service and (ii) trade.

Derek Twigg: Manning data are as of October 2007 as this is the most accurate available.
	The following table summarises the required manning level of the Defence Medical Services of the Armed Forces, including the requirement for a manning and training margin (MTM) and the actual number of personnel, including those in training.
	
		
			   Requirement  MTM( 1)  Personnel -trained strength  Personnel in training( 2)  Personnel total 
			 Royal Navy 1311 218 1378 271 1649 
			 Army 4516 287 3783 561 4344 
			 Royal Air Force 1748 171 1574 63 1637 
			 Tri-service 7575 676 6735 895 7630 
			 (1) The Manning and Training Margin (MTM) relates to personnel who are undertaking career directed professional training and those who are non-effective, for example while on terminal leave or long-term sick leave. (2) Personnel in training does not include personnel who are already trained in a medical speciality and who are in career directed professional training.  Source: Manning Return, October 2007 
		
	
	Tables which provide the figures for each medical speciality and show the requirement and the number of trained personnel (but not personnel in training) in each medical and dental personnel division of the armed forces as at October 2007, have been placed in the Library of the House.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what measures are in place in his Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Derek Twigg: The policy, rules and guidance on the provision of official entertainment are set out in Chapter 45 of Joint Services Publication 462 (Financial Management Policy Manual), copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The appropriate budget manager has the responsibility to verify compliance within the rules.

Departmental Buildings

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of residential properties owned by his Department are vacant, broken down by county.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in 2007-08; what the total amount of bonuses paid was; what the largest single payment was; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The number and value of annual appraisal-related bonuses paid to members of the senior civil service (SCS), to fixed term appointees and to civil servants below the level of the SCS covered by the MOD main pay deal (excluding trading funds and agencies), in 2007-08, are listed in tables 1 to 3 as follows. The Ministry of Defence also awards special bonuses to individuals and teams for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of professional qualifications which benefit MOD and the individual; these are shown in table 4. The final table (5) shows the total value of all bonuses paid in cash terms; it is not possible at this time to give the percentage of the work force to which this refers and this will be advised at the end of July.
	
		
			  Table 1: Bonuses paid to senior civil servants 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid 186 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 1,325,700 
			 Highest bonus payment () 17,600 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Bonuses paid to fixed term appointees 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid (1)16 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 333,915 
			 Highest bonus payment () 50,000 
			 (1) There is one outstanding bonus payment still to be agreed. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: End of year bonuses paid to staff below the level of the SCS (excluding MOD trading fund agencies 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of bonuses paid 52,193 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 39,695,110 
			 Highest bonus payment () 4,695 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Special bonuses (excluding MOD trading fund agencies) 
			   2007-08 
			 Number of staff who received bonus(es) 8,428 
			 Value of bonuses paid () 3,455,124 
			 Highest bonus payment () 2,000 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Summary of bonuses paid 
			  Total  2007-08 
			 Value of all bonuses paid () 44,589,288 
			 Percentage of total civilian work force (1) 
			 (1) Staff numbers taken from departmental end year accounts not yet available.

Departmental Pay

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what bonus was awarded to his Department's permanent under secretary in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 14 July 2008
	Although the Government, with the agreement of those concerned, may in exceptional cases decide to publish personal information about individual public servants, the general policy is to treat such information, including about variable pay, as private.
	Decisions on pay and reward for permanent secretaries are considered annually by the Permanent Secretaries' Remuneration Committee and are subject to the rules and regulations governed by the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) and the Cabinet Office. Since 1 April 2002, non-consolidated variable pay awards paid to permanent secretaries have fallen within the SSRB recommended ceilings imposed on the rest of senior civil service (SCS). Bonuses for performance during 2002-03 were paid in financial year 2003-04 and continue to follow that pattern as shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Performance year  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Paid in financial year 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 
			 SSRB average SCS bonus ceiling(1) 3.8 4 5 6.5 7.6 
			 Permanent secretaries range(2) 2.8 to 11.9 4.4 to 10.5 4 to 11.4 2.5 to 9.9 3.3 to 13.3 
			 (1) Shown as a percentage of the overall SCS pay bill. (2) Shown as a percentage of individual base pay.  Note: Bonus awards for permanent secretaries for the year up to 31 March 2008 will be within this year's 8.6 per cent. overall ceiling for bonuses.

Departmental Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much expenditure his Department has incurred on the  (a) Long Service Advance of Pay,  (b) New Build HomeBuy,  (c) Open Market Homebuy,  (d) English Partnerships First Time Buyers Initiative and  (e) Shared Equity services schemes in each year since 2006.

Derek Twigg: MOD's (gross) expenditure per calendar year on Long Service Advance of Pay (LSAP) was around 24 million in 2006, 22 million in 2007.
	The Department has incurred no expenditure on New Build HomeBuy, Open Market Homebuy, and English Partnerships First Time Buyers Initiative. These are a matter for the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Shared Equity Services is a commercial company providing arrangements for service personnel.

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of his Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows total MOD expenditure on research activity in each of the last 10 financial years for which complete data are available. Figures are inclusive of non-recoverable VAT, expressed at current prices, and presented in  million. Because of transitional arrangements with the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting, the figures are expressed as a percentage of the MOD net cash requirement from 2001-02 in order to provide a broad comparison over the period. Before this point, MOD reported its expenditure on a cash accounting basis.
	
		
			   millions 
			   MOD departmental net research Expenditure  Percentage of aggregate MOD expenditure 
			 1996-97 672 3.0 
			 1997-98 564 2.7 
			 1998-99 560 2.5 
			 1999-00 552 2.4 
			 2000-01 566 2.4 
			 2001-02 557 2.2 
			 2002-03 515 1.9 
			 2003-04 524 1.8 
			 2004-05 639 2.2 
			 2005-06 598 2.0 
			  Source:  UK Defence Statistics 
		
	
	The net cash requirement (NCR) is the actual money that MOD requests from the Government in order to fund its activities. The NCR takes account of movements in working capital levels (debtors, creditors, stock) while excluding all non-cash costs (e.g. depreciation and cost of capital charges etc.) The term Department has been interpreted as the MOD not including its trading fund agencies (i.e. ABRO, DARA, Met Office, DSTL and Hydrographic Office). This aligns with the MOD annual report and accounts.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many days of sick leave were taken by his Department's employees in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Sickness absence rates in the MOD for the 12 months ending 31 December 2005, 31 December 2006, 31 December 2007 and 31 March 2008 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Sickness absence rates by year ending 
			  FTE rates 
			   Industrial  Non-industrial  Total 
			 31 March 2008 11.54 8.01 8.66 
			 31 December 2007 11.85 8.22 8.90 
			 31 December 2006 12.11 8.04 8.82 
			 31 December 2005 12.54 8.55 9.30 
			  Notes: 1. Data exclude staff in trading funds, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and locally engaged civilians for whom sickness absence data are not readily available. 2. Data presented reflect the current Cabinet Office definition, setting a maximum absence of 225 days per person, and excludes data for weekends, annual leave and bank holidays. 3. Rates are calculated by dividing the total working days lost for each period by a weighted 13 month average for the period listed with the first and last month receiving a weighting of 0.5, and all other months a weighting of 1. 
		
	
	Information prior to the 12 months ending 31 December 2005 is compiled on a previous definition for monitoring sickness absence which is incomparable with figures for 1 January to 31 December 2005 onwards.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Derek Twigg: The MOD currently recognises the following trade unions and staff associations which represent staff in a wide range of grades, trades and professions:
	 Non-Industrial Trade Unions
	FDA
	Prospect
	PCS (Public and Commercial Services Union)
	 Industrial Trades Unions
	Unite (Amicus Section)
	Unite (Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) Section)
	GMB (General and Municipal Boilermakers)
	UCATT (Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians)
	 Staff Associations
	CPOA (Chief Police Officers Association)
	DPF (Defence Police Federation)
	ROA (Retired Officers Association)
	 Maritime Trade Unions
	Nautilus UK
	RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers)
	 Medical Gr ades and Civilian Practitioners
	BMA (British Medical Association)
	 Teaching Grades
	ATL (The Association of Teachers and Lecturers)
	NAHT (National Association of Head Teachers)
	NASUWT (The National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers)
	NUT (National Union of Teachers)
	ASCL (Association of School and College Leaders (Formerly Secondary Heads of Association (SHA))
	 Locally Engaged Civilians Overseas
	 Germany
	Ver.di (Vereinigte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft)
	 Gibraltar
	Unite (TGWU Section)
	Unite (TGWU Section)-ACTSS (Association of Clerical Technical and Supervisory Staff)
	Prospect-GGCA (Gibraltar General and Clerical Association)
	Gibraltar Services Police Staff Association
	 Cyprus
	SEK (Federation of Government, Military and Civil Service Workers)
	PEO (Pan Cyprian Federation of LabourGovernment/Military and Social Institute Servants)
	PASYDY (Pancyprian Public Servants' Trade Union)
	TURKSAE (Cyprus Turkish Military Employee Trade Union)
	SBA (Sovereign Bases Abroad) Police Association

Hydrographic Meteorological and Oceanographic Training Group

Linda Gilroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Royal Naval personnel and  (b) civilian staff are employed by the Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic Training Group.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The Hydrographic, Meteorological and Oceanographic (HM) Training Group came under the Flag Officer Sea Training (South) command in April 2008 and at this time was renamed FOST HM. It currently employs 21 Royal Navy personnel and no civil servants.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Snatch Landrovers have been blown up in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan since 2003; and what the date of each incident was.

Des Browne: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of our armed forces.

Lost Working Days

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many working days have been lost due to industrial action by employees for which his Department is responsible in each year since 1997.

Derek Twigg: 11,873 working days were lost as a result of strike action in the MOD, its agencies and non-departmental bodies; in the period 1997 to 2008, broken down as follows:
	
		
			   Days 
			 1997 Nil 
			 1998 Nil 
			 1999 Nil 
			 2000 771 
			 2001 16 
			 2002 267 
			 2003 Nil 
			 2004 2,664 
			 2005 Nil 
			 2006 Nil 
			 2007 8,155 
		
	
	Industrial action short of a strike is not recorded in terms of working days lost.
	The MOD is committed to working in partnership with its trade unions and makes every effort to avert industrial action of any kind.

Military Bases

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many break-ins were reported at UK military facilities in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The numbers of break-ins reported to the Ministry of Defence police at UK military facilities in each of the last 10 years are shown in the following table.
	For the purpose of this answer we have defined break-ins at UK military facilities as all reported instances of burglary and trespassing at MOD establishments.
	
		
			   Burglaries  Trespass 
			 1999 76 101 
			 2000 182 69 
			 2001 117 104 
			 2002 130 103 
			 2003 123 132 
			 2004 113 56 
			 2005 74 80 
			 2006 137 67 
			 2007 90 136 
			 2008 (1)43 (2)40 
			 Total 1,085 888 
			 (1 )Up to l5 May 2008. (2 )Up to 12 June 2008.

Navy, Army and Air Force Institute

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the  (a) turnover and  (b) profit of Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, Germany was in each year since 2005;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent Navy, Army and Air Force Institute annual report and accounts.

Bob Ainsworth: The Navy Army and Airforce Institute is a separate legal entity to MOD, and a company limited by guarantee. Details of its annual accounts including turnover and profit can be obtained on request from Companies House in the usual way.

Trident: Scotland

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of civilian jobs in Scotland dependent on the Trident programme; what the locations are of those jobs; and how many there are at each site.

Des Browne: The latest available figure for civilian jobs that directly rely upon the Trident programme in Scotland is 859, as at December 2006. It was estimated at that point that there were a further 250 indirect civilian jobs based on employment relating to support activities to the Trident programme.
	The 859 direct jobs are broken down by location as follows:
	
		
			  Location  Number 
			 HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane) 48 
			 Royal Navy Armament Depot Coulport 541 
			 Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment 270 
			 Total 859

WORK AND PENSIONS

Backdated Benefits

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made 
	(1)  of the effect on levels of  (a) child poverty and  (b) pensioner poverty of the Department's proposals to reduce the backdating period for council tax benefit; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment his Department has made of the likely effect of its proposals to reduce the backdating period for housing benefit on levels of  (a) homelessness,  (b) child poverty and  (c) pensioner poverty; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander) on 24 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2173-74W.

Carers' Allowances: Darlington

Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received carer's allowance in Darlington constituency in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people in receipt of carer's allowance in Darlington parliamentary constituency 
			  November each year  Number 
			 2007 790 
			 2006 820 
			 2005 780 
			 2004 790 
			 2003 790 
			  Notes: 1. Figures show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended.  2. This information is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website at http://83.244.183.180/100pc/ca/tabtool_ca.html  Source:  DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study.

Children: Maintenance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when the hon. Member for West Lancashire's constituent Miss Lorraine Preston's claim for child maintenance payments will be resolved by the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is the matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 21 July 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the hon. Member for West Lancashire's constituent Miss Lorraine Preston's claim for child maintenance payments will be resolved by the Child Support Agency.
	As details about individual cases are confidential, I have written to you separately about this case.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Anne McGuire: The majority of the DWP estate has been sold (freehold, feuhold and long leasehold interests) or transferred (short leasehold interests) to Land Securities Trillium under a Private Finance Initiative contract known as PRIME which runs until 2018.
	The proceeds were released to HM Treasury in April 1998 for the original Department for Social Security estate and further in December 2003 when PRIME was expanded to include the former Employment Services estate. DWP holds no valuable leases or freeholds following the letting of the PRIME Contract and its subsequent expansion.
	Consequently we do not hold any information for these buildings as lease responsibilities lie with Land Securities Trillium.
	For the other DWP agencies and non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) the position is outlined as follows.
	 The Rent Service
	The following buildings are occupied where a lease becomes renewable in the next four years.
	
		
			  Building name  Location  Tenure  Lease break 
			 Hawthorn House (1(st) Floor), Emperor Way Exeter Lease 24 March 2009 
			 5(th) Floor, Holland House Oxford Road Bournemouth Lease 1 October 2008 
			 4 London Court, East Street Reading Lease 15 June 2009 
			 St. Mary's House (1(st) Floor), Victoria Road Chelmsford Lease 28 September 2009 
			 1(st) Floor, Adelphi House, 8 Turret Lane Ipswich Lease 28 September 2009 
			 Tuition House (2(nd) Floor), St. George's Road Wimbledon Lease 2 November 2009 
			 Spectrum Building (West Wing), Bond Street Bristol Lease 2 January 2010 
			 5 Victoria Court, Kent Street Nottingham Lease 29 October 2010 
			 
			 Gd Floor, Unit E, Aviator Court, Clifton Moor 3(rd) Floor, Rouen House, Rouen Road, York Lease 9 January 2011 
			  Norwich Lease 2 September 2011 
		
	
	 Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
	There are 21 buildings where leases are to be renewed and the locations and dates are as follows.
	
		
			  Building name  Location  Tenure  Lease break/end 
			 AW HSE Luton Lease 20 January 2011 
			 Lakeside 500 Norwich Lease 18 September 2011 
			 Phoenix House East Grinstead Lease 18 March 2012 
			 OCNS-Harwell Oxfordshire Lease 24 March 2011 
			 Hagley Road Birmingham Lease 24 June 2012 
			 Haswell House Worcester Lease 19 February 2009 
			 
			 Lyme Vale Court Stoke Lease 8 February 2011 
			8 February 2016 
			 
			 City Gate West Nottingham Lease 22 December 2008 
			 Edison Court Wrexham Lease 12 August 2009 
			 Darkgate Building Carmarthen Lease 31 December 2009 
			 Ballard House Plymouth Lease 24 March 2011 
			 Government Building Llanishen MOTO 31 March 2010 
			 Grove House Manchester Lease 16 July 2012 
			 Marshall House Preston Lease 27 August 2011 
			 Daniel House Bootle Lease 16 October 2009 
			 Cherry Lane Warehouse Walton Lease 11 December 2008 
			 Marshalls Mill Leeds Lease 18 February 2011 
			 Arden HSE, 5(th) Fl Newcastle Upon Tyne Lease 24 December 2010 
			 Edgar Allen House Sheffield Assigned Lease 24 March 2011 
			 West George Street Glasgow Lease 8 September 2008 
			 Longman House Inverness MOTO 31 March 2009 
		
	
	 NDPBs and Arm's Length Bodies
	There are no leases that are due for renewal in the next four years.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in his Department and its agencies have been  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years.

Anne McGuire: The Department introduced a new personnel computer system incrementally from November 2006, being fully implemented by April 2007, information is not available from this system prior to April 2007.
	The information provided in the tables below reflects data recorded on that system for the number of staff  (a) dismissed and  (b) subject to disciplinary action since April 2007.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Employees dismissed 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 202 
			 Employees dismissed 1 April 2008 to 30 June 2008 55 
		
	
	
		
			   Number 
			 Employees disciplined 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008 1,114 
			 Employees disciplined 1 April 2008 to 30 June 2008 235

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Anne McGuire: The Department does not readily hold information about individual number of chairs, desks and other office furnishings purchased and could provide this only at disproportionate cost. Information on expenditure that is available is provided in the following table.
	
		
			   million 
			  Financial year  Chairs  Desks  Other office furnishings  Total cost 
			 2003-0413 
			 2004-054 
			 2005-06 1.5 3.5 3 8 
			 2006-07 2 5 4 11 
			 2007-08 1 2 2 5

Departmental Orders and Regulations

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many statutory instruments have been  (a) made and  (b) revoked by Ministers in his Department and its predecessor since 1997.

Anne McGuire: The Department for Work and Pensions, which was formed on 8 June 2001 from parts of the former Department of Social Security, the former Department for Education and Employment and the Employment Service, has made a total of 659 statutory instruments since its formation.
	Information on statutory instruments made before June 2001 and on statutory instruments revoked is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Participation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 732W, on departmental public participation, what the cost was of each project listed; and what steps  (a) have been taken and  (b) are planned as a result of the findings of each project.

Anne McGuire: Details of the costs, in 2007-08, of the projects listed in the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 732W, and the steps taken or planned as a result of the findings of each project are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Project  Company  Steps taken/planned  2007-08  cost  ( ) 
			 Families and Children study National Centre for Social Research Findings are used to help monitor and feed into various government policy areas related to families and children and their income, employment, childcare, disability, health, child outcomes and activities and on child maintenance issues. 768,891 
			 How do people think DWP should respond to the future Ipsos MORI The findings of the research have been disseminated to Ministers and officials and will help improve our understanding of the public's priorities for the Department and its policies. More specifically it helped inform the command paper: Ready for work, full employment in our generation published in December 2007. 127,597 
			 Attitudes to state pensions British Market Research Bureau A number of omnibus questions which helped inform policy understanding of the state pension package 5,590 
			 Living standards National Centre for Social Research Results were used to inform development of living standard questions on the Family Resources Survey 128,400 
			 Living standards (methodological work) National Centre for Social Research Results were used to inform development of living standard questions on the Family Resources Survey 35,599 
			 Community Care Grants British Market Research Bureau Findings were used to inform policy understanding of community Care Grants. 11,280 
			 Claimants' experiences of changes in circumstances and the effect of recovering overpayments (Phases 2 and 3) Social Policy Research Unit, University of York Findings informed policy development to facilitate customer change of circumstance reporting. 145,400 
			 NatCen Omnibus Surveyexploring attitudes to child poverty National Centre for Social Research The findings are being used to inform our child poverty strategy and are referenced in the March 2008 publication 'Ending child poverty: everybody's business'. 20,000 
			 British Social Attitudes Survey National Centre for Social Research This survey covers a range of issues and findings help inform a range of policy issues. 95,000 
			 NatCen Omnibus Surveymeasuring PSA 17 (Later Life) National Centre for Social Research Results will be used to provide regular monitoring information to delivery board for later life PSA (17) 7,360 
			 ONS Omnibus survey (disability module) Office for National Statistics Findings are used to conduct internal analysis to monitor departmental targets in relation to disability and equality. 143,836 
			 English Longitudinal Study of Ageing National Centre for Social Research Findings are used to provide evidence for a range of policy areas. For example, in the past ELSA data have been used to produce key evidence for the Pensions White Paper and to inform the Government's strategy on the wellbeing of older people. (1)400,000 
			 Individuals' attitudes and likely reactions to the personal account reforms, 2007 Ipsos MORI Results have informed policy development in relation to the private pension reforms. 375,500 
			 Reasons why individuals might remain in or opt out of the personal account scheme Ipsos MORI Findings have helped inform policy development in relation to the private pension reforms. 62,820 
			 Employers' attitudes and likely reactions to the personal account reforms, 2007 British Market Research Bureau Findings have helped inform policy development in relation to the private pension reforms 257,224 
			 Understanding employers' responses to the personal account reforms British Market Research Bureau This research has helped inform policy development in relation to the private pension reforms. 73,240 
			 Pensions Education Fund IFF Research Ltd The findings were fed into the review of the future of the Pension Education Fund, while detailed 'lessons learned' about engaging employers and delivering information are being collated from this evaluation, and other sources, over the two year programme period to inform future policy. 41,875 
			 Information Needs at Retirement RS Consulting Ltd The findings have fed into a number of related policy areas: these include the policy options for the decumulation of the pension funds of personal account holders and stakeholders' work on annuity information products following on from HM Treasury's annuities Open Market Option Review. 71,215 
			 Customer Purchase Outcome Survey British Market Research Bureau The findings have allowed us to gain a clearer understanding of pension holders' purchase intentions and actions and the sources and types of information they use to enable them to make purchase decisions. (2)10,545 
			 Trust and confidence in pensions and pension providers British Market Research Bureau The results were used to contribute to the development of communications strategies for respective target audiences. 10,975 
			 Understanding why employees do not participate in employer pension schemes Ipsos MORI This research aimed to understand why employees do not participate in pension schemes where there is a 3% or more employer contribution. 22,230 
			 At Retirement Monitor 2007 Marketing Sciences Ltd DWP are part of a consortium contributing to this survey research. The work will contribute to and inform wider research in pension reform. (3)14,100 
			 Retirement Planning Monitor 2007 Marketing sciences Ltd DWP are part of a consortium contributing to this survey research. The work will contribute to and inform wider research in pension reform. (3)8,500 
			 Cost of running pension schemes: A feasibility study RS Consulting Ltd This research was aimed at designing a questionnaire that could be used to gather information on the administrative costs of running pension schemes. As a result of this work we will be looking to commission a large scale quantitative survey to gather detailed information on scheme administration costs 82,360 
			 Employers Pension Provision 2007 British Market Research Bureau Results have helped inform policy development on pension reforms, including Personal Accounts. 261,430 
			 Understanding responses to pension forecasts Independent Social Research Ltd The findings form part of the evidence base being considered in the continuous development of improved strategies for informing people of their state pension entitlement 48,958 
			 Information needs of auto-enrolled individuals British Market Research Bureau This study identified the information requirements and possible channels and timings of information delivery to individuals in the run up to automatic enrolment into a personal account, or qualifying workplace pension, in 2012. Findings will feed into the Enabling Savings for Retirement information and communications strategy. 50,882 
			 State Pension Deferral British Market Research Bureau Results will be used to inform policy understanding of state pension deferral. 94,085 
			 Accrual of basic state pension National Centre for Social Research The findings will provide a better understanding of the characteristics and BSP accrual rates of those retiring from 2010 onwards. 108,350 
			 Pension Service customer survey British Market Research Bureau The research is being used to inform operational improvements to the Pensions Disability and Carers Service. 257,799 
			 Child Support and Relationship Breakdown survey National Centre for Social Research The results have been used among other things to inform the development of the information and support service offered by the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission.. 558,978 
			 Child support policy telephone survey British Market Research Bureau Findings informed the design of the information and support services as part of the Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission and contributed to the Bill process which will enable the changes to the CSA to commence. 9,200 
			 Public attitudes to key aspects of the welfare reform programme Brahm The results are used to contribute to the development of communications strategies for respective target audiences. 40,850 
			 Attitudes to retirement Ipsos MORI The results were used to stimulate public debate with regards to retirement and pension saving. 4,480 
			 Attitudes to pension saving YouGov The results were used to stimulate public debate with regards to retirement and pension saving. 1,550 
			 NatCen Omnibus Survey (module 1)examining attitudes to mental health and employment National Centre for Social Research Findings from this project, together with the findings from module 2 below, have been used to develop and inform the Department's agenda on mental health and employment. 60,000 
			 NatCen Omnibus Survey (module 2) -examining attitudes to seeking psychological therapies for mental health conditions National Centre for Social Research Findings from this project, together with the findings from module 1 above, have been used to develop and inform the Department's agenda on mental health and employment. 60,000 
			 Focus groups on assessing child support client information and support needs CapGemini Findings were used to identify channels, format and messages that non resident parents and parents with care require through the new information and support service which will be delivered by Child Maintenance Enforcement Commission. 100,000 
			 (1) DWP contribution (this survey is funded by several Government Departments) (2) Contribution to FSA survey (3) Contribution to survey

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many reviews of regulation  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Anne McGuire: Information on the number of reviews of regulation that the Department and its agencies have undertaken in the last year is not held centrally. However, the Department for Work and Pensions constantly keeps its regulation under review across policy and operations. For example the Department has undertaken a thorough review of statutory sick pay and is taking forward reforms identified in the independent review of the private pensions regulatory framework.
	The Health and Safety Executive has reviewed, for example, the Factories Act 1961; the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963; and the Health and Safety Information for Employees Regulations 1989. Work has also started to review the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996.

Departmental Written Questions

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of Parliamentary questions for answer on a named day to his Department received a  (a) holding and  (b) substantive answer on the named day in each year since 2001.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is contained in the following table:
	
		
			   Holding replies  Substantive replies   
			   Number  Percentage of total  Number  Percentage of total  Total named day  questions answered  Total all written questions answered 
			 2001 157 30.7 355 69.3 512 906 
			 2002 522 53.1 461 46.9 983 2,273 
			 2003 154 36.3 270 63.7 424 2,027 
			 2004 153 24.3 476 75.7 629 2,890 
			 2005 221 38.1 359 61.9 580 2,562 
			 2006 340 50.8 329 49.2 669 3,887 
			 2007 421 59.8 283 40.2 704 3,421 
			 Total 1,968 43.7 2,533 56.3 4,501 17,966

Departmental Written Questions

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many written questions to his Department had not received an answer as at 25 February 2008 for  (a) between two and four,  (b) between four and six,  (c) between six and eight and  (d) more than eight weeks; and how many in each category were tabled for named day answer.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is in the following table:
	
		
			  Weeks since question received, as at 25 February 2008 
			   Question  t ype  
			   ordinary  named day  Tota l 
			 Up to two weeks 120 17 137 
			 Between 2 and 4 weeks 124 13 137 
			 Between 4 and 6 weeks 42 4 46 
			 Between 6 and 8 weeks 16 1 17 
			 More than 8 weeks 30 5 35 
			 Totals 332 40 372

Disability Discrimination Act 2005

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what guidance on reasonable adjustments for people with mental health conditions he has issued to assist organisations in complying with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005;
	(2)  what Government publications contain guidance on requirements for organisations in relation to compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005.

Anne McGuire: The primary source of guidance on duties under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended by the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, is the range of Codes of Practice and information published by the former Disability Rights Commission. The Codes of Practice may be purchased from the Stationery Office or may be downloaded free of charge, along with other guidance, from the website of the Equality and Human Rights Commission:
	www.equalityhumanrights.com
	In addition, the Government have published a range of guidance giving advice to employers, service providers, education providers and others with duties under the Disability Discrimination Act on how they can meet their obligations under the Act. However, there is no centrally held list of these publications and such a list could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.
	My Department has published general guidance for organisations on its website about reasonable adjustments that can be made for disabled people, including people with mental health conditions.

Disabled: Respite Care

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to paragraph 3.11 of the paper, Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities, how much of the 150 million funding for breaks for carers of disabled children his Department plans to provide in each of the next two years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 17 July 2008
	Funding for breaks for carers referred to in paragraph 3.11 of Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.
	We have allocated up to 38 million (dependent upon demand for services) to fund the initiatives that fall to this Department to deliver. This includes up to 10 million a year to fund replacement care for carers who wish to access education or training opportunities.

Equality 2025

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 818W, on Equality 2025, how much of the expenditure was  (a) capital and  (b) resource; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the annual accounts of Equality 2025 for each year since its establishment.

Anne McGuire: Equality 2025 does not have an administration budget, the expenditure for Equality 2025 is paid out of a programme budget.
	This means the budget cannot be used to pay for resources (staffing) or capital costs, as this type of expenditure can only be met from an administration budget. Expenditure for the resources that support Equality 2025 is included in the Office for Disability Issues administration budget.
	The annual accounts will form part of Equality 2025's first report, which will be published shortly. A copy will be placed in the Library.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the  (a) total and  (b) average amount paid out under the Financial Assistance Scheme has been in each month since it was established; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The total amount paid out by the Financial Assistance Scheme Operational Unit for each month in which payments were made has been:
	
		
			  Month  Initial  Annual  Gross expenditure () 
			  2005
			 December 13 0 36,894 
			 
			  2006
			 January 15 0 6,371 
			 February 27 0 35,996 
			 March 32 0 20,072 
			 April 45 0 39,000 
			 May 86 0 144,000 
			 June 149 5 213,000 
			 July 187 27 363,355 
			 August 240 66 346,155 
			 September 318 76 311,301 
			 October 377 102 212,399 
			 November 519 118 274,684 
			 December 594 124 686,599 
			 
			  2007
			 January 751 136 326,659 
			 February 823 153 359,132 
			 March 882 175 506,441 
			 April 937 205 311,721 
			 May 1,014 222 305,209 
			 June 1,073 240 348,517 
			 July 1,116 268 352,981 
			 August 1,419 278 1,955,995 
			 September 2,269 291 1,575,369 
			 October 2,717 320 1,259,933 
			 November 3,064 371 1,146,130 
			 December 3,333 685 1,223,222 
			 
			  2008
			 January 3,623 844 2,374,841 
			 February 3,868 922 1,227,357 
			 March 4,117 971 1,168,925 
			 April 4,371 1,114 1,073,789 
			 May 4,558 1,202 1,342,270 
			 June 4,938 1,412 4,657,200 
		
	
	While it would be possible to calculate an average payment from these figures, it would not be meaningful due to a number of distorting factors. These include:
	where changes to the legislation have resulted in some members receiving substantial payments for entitlement for past periods.
	the phased implementation of regulatory changes, i.e. the FAS operational unit are now 51 per cent. of the way through the uplift from 80 to 90 per cent.
	in any one month there will be a combination of members receiving payments for past periods, payments only for the current month, payments for part month, and some members that will have had a FAS payment adjusted for pension credit abatement.

Financial Assistance Scheme

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what legal costs have been incurred by his Department in relation to the Financial Assistance Scheme in each month since the scheme was established; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: There have been no specific legal costs incurred by the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to the operation of the financial assistance scheme. Legal advice on policy and legislation governing FAS assistance levels is provided by departmental lawyers. To disaggregate this advice from other areas of advice would give rise to disproportionate cost.

Housing Benefit

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in housing benefit in the UK in each of the last three years.

James Plaskitt: Information regarding Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
	The information for Great Britain is in the table.
	
		
			  Housing benefit expenditure in Great Britain 
			  (outturn million) 
			   Nominal terms  Real terms 2008-09 prices 
			 2004-05 13,158 14,698 
			 2005-06 13,928 15,237 
			 2006-07 14,840 15,782 
			  Notes: 1. Information sourced from local authority claims for housing revenue account subsidy and housing benefit subsidy. 2. Figures to 2005-06 are taken from the final audited subsidy claims submitted to the Department by each local authority. 3. Figures for 2006-07 are not yet audited, and represent provisional out-turn for the year.  Source:  DWP expenditure tables. 
		
	
	Benefit expenditure information is available online at
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_term.asp
	Local authority expenditure Information is available online at
	www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/HBandCTB_expenditure.asp

Incapacity Benefit: Bedfordshire

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many incapacity benefit claimants there were in South West Bedfordshire constituency in November 2007.

Anne McGuire: At November 2007, there were 2,900 claimants of incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance in South West Bedfordshire parliamentary constituency.

Incapacity Benefit: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the working age population of Tamworth constituency received incapacity benefit in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: At November 2007, an estimated 5.7 per cent. of the working age population in Tamworth parliamentary constituency were incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance claimants.

Pension Credit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the estimated additional annual costs 
	(1)  of allowing the pension credit assessed income period to continue automatically after the age of 80 are; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  of his Department's proposals to allow pension credit to be retained for up to 13 weeks of a temporary absence abroad are; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The proposals to allow pension credit to be retained for up to 13 weeks of a temporary absence abroad and the introduction of an indefinite assessed income period for those pension credit customers aged 80 or over or who have an assessed income period spanning their 80th birthday (benefiting most customers aged 75 or over) are part of a package of pensions measures that will make claiming benefit entitlements simpler and less intrusive and deliver extra support to pensioners. This package includes the introduction of a more automatic claims process for housing benefit and council tax benefit claims made over the phone with pension credit claims, which will benefit around 50,000 pensioners over the next few years. The costs and savings associated with wider pension measures along with the costs of the proposed changes to rules on temporary absence abroad in pension credit and introducing an indefinite assessed income period for those aged 80 or over are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimates of costs/savings: 2007-08 prices 
			   million 
			   2008  2009  2010  2015  2020  2030  2040  2050 
			 Total pension measures 575 -25 0 0 75 150 200 250 
			  Of which: 
			 Absence abroad 1.0 2.0 2.0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 
			 Indefinite assessed income periods for those aged 80 or over  -3.5 -2.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 
			  Notes:  1. Negative figures represent net savings.  2. The total set of wider pensions measures includes the simplification package and spending on other pension measures in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11.  3. Figures relate to financial years.  4. Estimates represent combined administrative and benefit costs/savings.  5. Total estimates for the wider portfolio of pensions measures have been rounded to the nearest 25 million.  6. Estimates of pension credit absence abroad changes and the indefinite assessed income periods for those aged 80 or over have been rounded to the nearest 0.5 million.  7. Indefinite assessed income periods for those aged 80 or over are due to be introduced from April 2009 so no costs are shown in 2008. On the introduction of pension credit assessed income periods (AIPs)where appropriatewere set for five and seven years which accounts for the high volume of AIPs reaching maturation in 2009-10.  8. Other pension measures include the up-rating of the pension credit standard minimum guarantee this year by 4.2 per cent. (more than the earnings commitment made for pension credit over the long term, the relevant average earnings figure was 3.5 per cent.) and the one-off additional amount with the winter fuel payment for the winter of 2008-09.  9. Simplification package includes the following measures: Automatic forwarding of housing benefit/council tax benefit claim details taken alongside a pension credit claim to the local authority, without the need for a signed claim form; reduction of the maximum housing benefit/council tax benefit backdating period from 12 to three months; reduction of the maximum pension credit time for claiming period from 12 to three months; increasing the length of time pension credit recipients may be abroad without losing their entitlement from four to 13 consecutive weeks; and the introduction of an indefinite assessed income period for those pension credit customers aged 80 or over or who have an assessed income period spanning their 80th birthday (benefiting most customers aged 75 or over).  10. Estimated costs and savings are consistent with the 2008 Budget settlement but it should be noted that they are based on a set of assumptions and are subject to change as new data become available.  11. Estimated costs/savings of the pension credit absence abroad and indefinite assessed income period measures have been projected forward from 2011 in line with the growth in the long-run forecast of expenditure on pension credit.  Source:  DWP modelling

Pension Credit: Finance

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost saving from the proposed reduction in the maximum period for claiming backdated pension credit from 12 to three months; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The proposal to change the length of time allowed for customers to claim pension credit (known as backdating) from 12 to three months is part of a package of pensions measures that will make claiming benefit entitlements simpler and less intrusive and deliver extra support to pensioners. This package includes the introduction of a more automatic claims process for housing benefit and council tax benefit claims made over the phone with pension credit claims, which will benefit around 50,000 pensioners over the next few years. The costs and savings associated with wider pension measures along with the savings produced by the proposed changes to the time allowed for claiming pension credit are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Estimates of costs/savings 
			   million, 2007-08 prices 
			   Total pension measures  Of which: Pension credit backdating 
			 2008 575 -55 
			 2009 -25 -100 
			 2010 0 -95 
			 2015 0 -70 
			 2020 75 -65 
			 2030 150 -55 
			 2040 200 -45 
			 2050 250 -40 
			  Notes: 1. Negative figures represent net savings. 2. The total set of wider pensions measures includes the simplification package and spending on other pension measures in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11. 3. Figures relate to financial years. 4. Estimates represent combined administrative and benefit costs/savings. 5. Total estimates for the wider portfolio of pensions measures have been rounded to the nearest 25 million. 6. Estimates of pension credit backdating have been rounded using the following convention: figures over 100 million have been rounded to the nearest 10 million and figures between 10 million and 100 million rounded to the nearest 5 million. 7. Other pension measures include the up-rating of the pension credit standard minimum guarantee this year by 4.2 per cent. (more than the earnings commitment made for pension credit over the long term, the relevant average earnings figure was 3.5 per cent.) and the one-off additional amount with the winter fuel payment for the winter of 2008-09. 8. Simplification package includes the following measures: Automatic forwarding of housing benefit/council tax benefit claim details taken alongside a pension credit claim to the local authority, without the need for a signed claim form; reduction of the maximum housing benefit/council tax benefit backdating period from 12 to 3 months; reduction of the maximum pension credit time for claiming period from 12 to 3 months; increasing the length of time pension credit recipients may be abroad without losing their entitlement from 4 to 13 consecutive weeks; and the introduction of an indefinite assessed income period for those pension credit customers aged 80 or over or who have an assessed income period spanning their 80th birthday (benefiting most customers aged 75 or over). 9. Estimated costs and savings are consistent with the 2008 Budget settlement but it should be noted that they are based on a set of assumptions and are subject to change as new data become available. 10. Estimated costs/savings of the pension credit backdating measure has been projected forward from 2011 in line with the growth in the long-run forecast of expenditure on pension credit.  Source: DWP modelling

Pension Credit: Overpayments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 138W, on pension credit: overpayments, if he will break down  (a) how much in overpayment was caused by and  (b) how many cases of (i) fraud and (ii) error there were in each year.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 13 March 2008
	DWP is committed to reducing fraud and error across the benefits system, including pension credit, while at the same time increasing the identification, correction and recovery of overpayments. In line with these aims, a comprehensive error reduction strategy is in place and stretching targets have been set for the recovery of overpayments. As a result, in 2006-07, DWP identified record levels of overpayments and achieved record levels of overpayment recoveries.
	Information on the level of identified overpayments in pension credit is in the following table. The trend in cash values reflects: our increasing efforts to identify cases of fraud and error; clearance in 2006-07 of a significant number of outstanding cases from the previous year, and the fact that for each year some of the overpayments dated back to the introduction of pension credit in 2003.
	
		
			  Identified pension credit overpayments broken down by fraud and error 
			   Amount of overpayment  Number of cases 
			   Fraud ()  Customer error ( million)  Official and other error ( million)  Fraud  Customer error  Official and other error 
			 2004-05 66,000 2.2 4.2 73 6,700 22,000 
			 2005-06 150,000 4.8 11.7 100 8,800 74,000 
			 2006-07 565,000 33.4 35.7 275 59,000 109,000 
			  Source: DWP Debt Management.

Personal Accounts: Small Businesses

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received from representatives of the small business sector on the introduction of personal accounts in 2012.

Mike O'Brien: In response to the May 2006 White Paper consultation, Security in retirement: towards a new pensions system, and the December 2006 White Paper Personal accounts: a new way to save, the Department for Work and Pensions received responses from various representatives of the small businesses sector regarding the introduction of personal accounts in 2012.
	The organisations broadly welcomed the Government's pension reforms. Full details of the responses are available in:
	Security in retirement: towards a new pension systemSummary of responses to the consultation; and
	Personal Accounts: a new way to saveSummary of responses to the consultation
	DWP Ministers and officials hold meetings with organisations representing the small businesses sector on an ongoing basis.

Rented Housing: Low Incomes

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff worked for the Rent Service  (a) at the most recent date for which figures are available and  (b) in 1997.

James Plaskitt: The administration of The Rent Service is a matter for the chief executive of The Rent Service, Patrick Boyle. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Patrick Boyle, dated 18 July 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about The Rent Service, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff worked for The Rent Service a) at the latest period for which figures are available and b) in 1997.
	a) The Rent Service had 571 (headcount) staff at the end of June 2008.
	b) The Rent Service did not become an Executive Agency until 1 October 1999 therefore figures for 1997 are unavailable.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 740W, on social security benefits: fraud, how many people  (a) received a caution and  (b) were convicted in respect of an offence of benefit fraud in each quarter for the last three years for which figures are available; and how many of those convicted were dealt with by way of (i) a discharge, (ii) a fine, (iii) a community sentence, (iv) a suspended sentence, (v) a custodial sentence, (vi) a custodial sentence of more than six months and (vii) a custodial sentence of more than 12 months.

James Plaskitt: Information broken down by the length of the custodial sentence is not available.
	The available information for DWP administered benefits is in the table.
	
		
			   Caution  Conviction  Discharge  Fine  Community service  Suspended sentence  Custodial sentence 
			  2004-05
			 Q1 2,131 2,306 649 414 650 41 146 
			 Q2 2,480 2,160 648 405 608 35 180 
			 Q3 2,371 2,092 684 411 601 41 149 
			 Q4 3,071 2,389 668 415 578 30 124 
			 Total 10,053 8,947 2,649 1,645 2,437 147 599 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Q1 3,037 2,010 618 376 686 55 263 
			 Q2 2,493 2,064 629 312 704 59 262 
			 Q3 2,611 2,303 532 252 670 69 235 
			 Q4 2,426 2,136 660 322 806 92 153 
			 Total 10,567 8,513 2,439 1,262 2,866 275 913 
			 
			  2006-07
			 Q1 3,296 1,809 510 248 652 99 222 
			 Q2 3,234 1,749 423 187 682 156 146 
			 Q3 2,977 1,391 343 140 470 130 137 
			 Q4 2,515 1,807 456 215 583 145 108 
			 Total 12,022 6,756 1,732 790 2,387 530 613 
			  Sources: 1. FIBS (Fraud Information by Sector) and FRAIMS. 2. Quarterly conviction figures from DWP/DH Legal Group. 
		
	
	Available information for local authority administered benefits is in the table.
	
		
			  Number of people cautioned and convicted during each quarter for the last three years 
			   Cautions  Convictions 
			  2004-05   
			 Q1 1,216 1,026 
			 Q2 1,652 1,238 
			 Q3 1,711 1,165 
			 Q4 2,070 1,259 
			 Total 6,649 4,688 
			
			  2005-06   
			 Q1 1,925 1,443 
			 Q2 2,327 1,449 
			 Q3 2,087 1,542 
			 Q4 3,369 1,800 
			 Total 9,708 6,234 
			
			  2006-07   
			 Q1 1,991 1,409 
			 Q2 2,586 1,471 
			 Q3 2,569 1,377 
			 Q4 3,205 1,477 
			 Total 10,351 5,734 
			  Source:  Local authority housing benefit administrative returns.

Winter Fuel Payments: Halifax

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Halifax received the winter fuel allowance in 2007-08.

Mike O'Brien: Figures for winter 2007-08 are not yet available. In winter 2006-07, 17,940 people in the Halifax constituency received a winter fuel payment.
	 Notes:
	1. Figures rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.
	 Source:
	Information directorate 100 per cent data.

Young People: Mothers

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of  (a) the proportion of teenage mothers who receive benefits and  (b) the proportion of benefits payments that are paid to teenage mothers.

James Plaskitt: Information about the proportion of teenage mothers who receive benefits is not available. Information about the proportion of benefits payments that are paid to teenage mothers could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British police officers are to be deployed with EUPOL Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We aim to provide 20 British personnel to the European Security and Defence Policy mission to Afghanistan. As at 17 July 2008, 15 British police officers (five serving and 10 retired) had accepted posts in the mission. We await the outcome of further nominations.

Aghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British police officers were stationed in Kabul at the latest date for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 July 2008
	On 15 July 2008 there were six British police officers (four serving and two retired) working with the Afghan police in Kabul, including officers from the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Defence police. Four more officers (three serving, one retired) will deploy later this month.
	The Government currently have a total of 84 personnel deployed to work with the police in Afghanistan.

Aghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Government Departments he  (a) consulted and  (b) involved in the decision to authorise the deployment of British police officers to Kabul.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The Home Office, the Ministry of Defence, the Northern Ireland Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office were all involved in the deployment of police officers to Kabul, in consultation with the Afghan Drugs Inter Departmental Unit which leads on planning for these deployments.

Ballistic Missiles

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries have made their annual declaration to the Hague Code of Conduct against ballistic missile proliferation for  (a) 2006 and  (b) 2007.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 July 2008
	There are currently 130 countries subscribing to the Hague Code of Conduct (HCOC) against ballistic missiles. The following 59 countries submitted their annual declarations for 2006:
	Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Malta, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US and Uruguay.
	And the following 78 countries have submitted their annual declaration for 2007:
	Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Latvia, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of), Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US and Venezuela.
	The above information was obtained from the HCOC Secretariat and was correct as of 10 July 2008.

China: Deportation

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deportation from China of the British citizen Dechen Pemba.

Meg Munn: On 8 July Dechen Pemba, a British citizen, was deported without notice from Beijing to the UK by the Chinese authorities. Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have been in touch with Ms Pemba since her safe return to the UK. Our embassy in Beijing expressed formal concerns to and sought clarification from the Chinese Foreign Ministry on 11 July and repeated their concerns about the deportation at a meeting on 17 July. Senior FCO officials raised concerns about the manner of Ms Pemba's deportation with the Chinese ambassador Madame Fu Ying on 11 July.

China: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to encourage the Chinese government to promote and protect the human rights of the Chinese people.

Meg Munn: Engagement on human rights with the Chinese authorities is a Government priority. Our approach includes high-level lobbying to encourage political progress and project work to deliver concrete assistance on the ground. We also use the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue to discuss issues in greater depth. The 16th round took place in Beijing at the end of January. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch-Brown, all raised human rights issues during their respective visits to China earlier this year and we have regularly expressed our concerns about the specific issue of human rights of Tibetans following the unrest in Tibet in March.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employs press and media officers in London and in our missions overseas. Locally-engaged staff are recruited and paid locally and have varying terms and conditions of service. We do not hold information centrally on these staff. It is not possible therefore to provide an overall average global figure without incurring disproportionate costs.
	Press and media officers employed in the UK and those recruited in the UK but working at our missions overseas are paid in line with all other FCO staff. The average cost to the FCO of a press and media officer in the UK in 2007-08 was 38,813. Those working in London also received a London location allowance of 3,000. This is the average cost of a member of staff working in the grades below the senior management structure (senior civil service).

Diplomatic Service: Manpower

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of employing a full-time overseas security officer  (a) as an employee of his Department and  (b) under a private contract; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office maintains security staff in around 200 locations to provide a wide range of functions, and costs vary due to local circumstances. No global comparison of the cost of direct employees and contractors has been undertaken.

Diplomatic Service: Manpower

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of the Control Risks contract for the provision of overseas security officers in each year since the contract was let; what mechanisms exist to ensure that value for money is achieved through this contract; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The estimated cost of the Control Risks static guarding contract, since it started in October 2003 until the end of the 2007-08 financial year (FY), is 4.09 million:
	
		
			  Financial year   
			 2003-04 247,186 
			 2004-05 779,372 
			 2005-06 913,084 
			 2006-07 1,030,906 
			 2007-08 1,120,123 
		
	
	The contract was competitively tendered and is subject to continuous contract management and monitoring. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office subjects all contracts to a rigorous procurement process in line with public procurement guidelines and best practice.

Ethiopia: Eritrea

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Government of Eritrea on incursions into the international demilitarised area in the border region between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Meg Munn: The UK's policy towards the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute is based on three principles: to avoid any return to war; for the border to be demarcated; and for the parties to normalise their relations. Ethiopia and Eritrea should agree a way forward to allow demarcation to proceed and for a normalisation process to begin, as set out in the Algiers Agreements of June and December 2000, to which both Ethiopia and Eritrea are signatories.
	As part of the above policy, we continue to request Eritrea to remove its forces from the Temporary Security Zonethe demilitarised zone established along the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
	My hon. Friend the Minister for the Middle East, Kim Howells, set out this policy to the Eritrean ambassador on 10 July. The UK's policy has equally been conveyed to the Government of Ethiopia, notably by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to the Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyoum Mesfin in November and by my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, to Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles in January in Addis Ababa.
	In addition, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials continually reiterate these messages to both the Ethiopian and Eritrean ambassadors to London and to their interlocutors in the Governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea in Addis Ababa and Asmara respectively.

Iran: Diplomatic Service

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff were employed in the British embassy in Tehran on  (a) 30 June 2007 and  (b) 30 June 2008, broken down by department; and how many he expects to be employed on 30 September 2008.

Kim Howells: holding answer 17 July 2008
	As of 30 June 2007, 26 UK-based staff were employed at our embassy in Tehran in the following departments:
	Senior Management (2); Political and Economic (7); Press and Public Affairs (1); Commercial (2); Management and Security (6); and Visa and Consular (8).
	As of 30 June 2008, 24 UK-based staff were employed at our embassy in Tehran in the following departments:
	Senior Management (2); Political and Economic (6); Press and Public Affairs (1); Commercial (1); Management and Security (6); and Visa and Consular (8).
	As of 30 September 2008, we expect 23 UK-based staff to be employed at our embassy in Tehranan increase of one person in the Political and Economic section, and a reduction of one person in the Visa and Consular section and one person in the Commercial section.

Iran: Nuclear Weapons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 147-48W, on Iran (nuclear programme), what the evidential basis is for his statement that UN resolution 1803 has been fully implemented.

David Miliband: The UK is fully implementing all provisions of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1803 (2008). The EU has already banned the supply of dual-use items covered in the resolution. Assets of individuals and entities named in the annex have been frozen by virtue of an Order in Council and the individuals have been added to the visa warnings index. The Export Credits Guarantee Department has stopped processing applications for new export credit cover for Iran. Bank Melli Iran was named as a bank of particular concern in UNSCR 1803. The UK has worked with EU partners to secure the designation of Bank Melli Iran and its subsidiaries and branches at EU level. Following designation on 24 June 2008, all assets belonging to, owned, held or controlled by Bank Melli Iran and Melli Bank Plc in the UK are frozen. HM Treasury issued guidance to financial institutions on 29 February 2008 advising them to take the risk arising from the deficiencies in Iran's anti-money laundering/counter-terrorist financing regime into account for enhanced due diligence. HM Revenue and Customs has enhanced its compliance and enforcement activity for consignments destined for Iran.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UN Security Council Committee on Iran sanctions established under UN Resolution 1737 (2006) has received information on alleged violations of measures imposed by Resolution  (a) 1737 (2006),  (b) 1747 (2007) and  (c) 1803 (2008); and what action was taken in each case.

David Miliband: We are aware that the Committee has received notifications on two occasions. In one case, the state sending the notification requested that it remain confidential while a judicial investigation continued.
	In the other case, the Committee discussed information that certain Iranian entities displayed items in the Defence Services Asia Exhibition, hosted by the Government of Malaysia. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted in the media as saying this constituted
	a direct contravention of Resolution[s] 1747 and 1803.
	The Committee also noted, as a result, that the Government of Malaysia closed down Iran's pavilion at the exhibition.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions the UN Security Council Committee on Iran sanctions established under UN Resolution 1737 (2006) has received a request for the sale, transfer or provision of items prohibited under paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 of that resolution; how many such requests have been granted; and on how many occasions such requests have been granted because Iran has stated it will not use such items in nuclear activities.

David Miliband: No requests for an exemption to the sale, transfer or provision of items prohibited under paragraphs 3, 4 and 6 of UN Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006) have been received.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of breaches of UN sanctions prohibiting the supply, sale or transfer of arms or related material from Iran; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The UN Sanctions Committee is the appropriate forum for matters relating to breaches of sanctions. The Committee has received two notifications from UN member states covering potential breaches to the supply of weapons from Iran. In one case, the state sending the notification requested that it remain confidential while a judicial investigation continued. In the other case, the Committee discussed information that certain Iranian entities displayed items in the Defence Services Asia Exhibition, hosted by the Government of Malaysia. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted in the media as saying this constituted
	a direct contravention of Resolution[s] 1747 and 1803.
	The Committee also noted as a result that the Government of Malaysia closed down Iran's pavilion at the exhibition.

Iran: Sanctions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many written reports have been submitted to the UN Security Council following an inspection of cargoes to and from Iran in accordance with paragraphs 11 and 12 of UN Security Council Resolution 1803; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: No reports have been submitted to the UN Security Council following an inspection of cargoes to and from Iran.

Iran: Travel Restrictions

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many requests for exemptions from UN travel restrictions on Iran have been received by the committee established pursuant to UN Resolution 1737 (2006); and how many of these have been granted.

David Miliband: Since its inception, the Committee has received only one notification, from the Russian Federation, of the travel to Moscow, pursuant to paragraph 10 of UN Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006), of an individual subject to the travel notification requirement. A notification received from Indonesia, regarding the travel to Jakarta of an individual working for the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, was subsequently established as unnecessary as the individual was not listed under the relevant resolutions.

Iraq: Oil

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on  (a) the provisions in the recent technical support contracts between oil multinational corporations and the government of Iraq and  (b) preferences for future contracts involving oil extraction attached to the technical support contract; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Government are aware that the Government of Iraq and international oil companies are in the process of negotiating technical support contracts. Such contracts, and the details therein, are a sovereign issue for the Iraqi government.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on the legal immunity of private military contractors in the successor agreement to the UN mandate for Iraq.

Kim Howells: The Government use private military and security companies to provide security for our diplomatic posts and for civilian officials in Iraq. As such, they play an important role in enabling us to achieve our objectives in Iraq. Although we have held initial discussions with the Government of Iraq on ways of securing a legal basis for activities by UK armed forces in Iraq following the anticipated expiry of UN Security Council Chapter VII authority, these have focussed on UK armed forces' operations and immunities. The issue of private military and security companies will be considered, if appropriate, in any future negotiations with the Government of Iraq.

Israel: Overseas Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department has issued on the obligations of UK companies under the International Criminal Court Act 2001 in relation to the purchase of goods from illegal Israeli settlements; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: None. It is for companies to take their own advice about their legal position.

Israel: Overseas Trade

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received on UK companies buying goods from illegal Israeli settlements;
	(2)  what representations he has received on the compliance with international law of UK companies buying goods from illegal Israeli settlements.

Kim Howells: We are concerned that goods from illegal Israeli settlements may be entering the UK under false pretences and without paying the correct customs duties. We have discussed this issue with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian General Delegation in London and non-governmental organisations. Several media outlets have also contacted us about the issue. We take this issue seriously and have alerted HM Revenue and Customs to it so that they can take appropriate action.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he plans to reply to the letter of 22 April 2008, reference M7079/8, from the honourable Member for Wycombe, forwarded from the Home Office, on passport photograph requirements for visas and the hijab in relation to Dubai.

Liam Byrne: I have been asked to reply.
	I confirm that Lin Homer, chief executive of UKBA, replied on 14 July 2008.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implementation of Road Map commitments by the Palestinian and Israeli governments, in respect of their commitments under the November 2007 Annapolis agreement; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: The US has appointed General Fraser to monitor implementation of the Quartet Roadmap. We expect all parties to fulfil their Roadmap obligations. This includes Palestinian work to improve their security sector, and as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said to the House on 18 June
	it is also important that, as the President of the US said only two days ago, the Israelis stop the settlement programme that is causing so much distress among the Palestinians.

North Africa: EU External Relations

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his French counterpart on the EU's political and economic strategy towards north Africa during the French presidency of the EU.

Jim Murphy: Both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary attended the EU summit in Paris on 13 July, hosted by President Sarkozy to launch the Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean. The UK welcomed the efforts of the French presidency to reinvigorate the EuroMed Partnership and to ensure the development of concrete projects aimed at tackling climate change, promoting energy and food security and education and training.
	Our officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are in close contact with the French presidency regarding its broader agenda for north Africa. Key priorities for the EU during the French presidency include the negotiation of an EU-Libya framework agreement and the launching of negotiations on a statut avanc with Morocco. The UK maintains strong relations with all the countries of north Africa, working together on issues of migration, energy and food security and tackling the threats posed by terrorism.

Qatar: Eritrea

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Government of Qatar on the use of funds from Qatar by the Eritrean Government for non-violent purposes.

Meg Munn: We regularly discuss developments in the Horn of Africa, including Eritrea, with the Government of Qatar at both official and ministerial level, including when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani in March 2007.
	Our officials and Ministers always make clear our support for peaceful solutions to the region's conflicts and encourage the Government of Qatar to use their influence with the Government of Eritrea to promote regional stability.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no plans to hold discussions in the immediate future with the Government of Qatar about their financial support to the Eritrean Government.

Saudi Arabia: Overseas Trade

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with  (a) his Saudi counterparts and  (b) ministerial colleagues in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on opportunities for trade between the UK and Saudi Arabia.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary holds regular discussions with the noble Lord Jones, Minister for Trade and Investment, on a variety of trade issues covering many countries, including Saudi Arabia.
	The noble Lord Jones visited Saudi Arabia from 9-12 March 2008. He held talks with the Saudi Minister of Commerce, the Governor of Riyadh and members of the Saudi and British business communities.

Sudan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent attacks on UN-AU peacekeepers in Darfur which resulted in the death of six peacekeepers.

Meg Munn: holding answer 16 July 2008
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 9 July in which he said the attack on the UN-African Union (AU) peacekeepers in Darfur on 8 July was a horrific and cowardly act of violence. We reiterate the UN Security Council's demand for those responsible to be brought to justice. The work of the UN-AU peacekeepers in Darfur, operating in hugely challenging circumstances, deserves our utmost admiration and support. Yesterday's attack, and the continuing crisis in Darfur, further emphasises the urgent need for a full and rapid commitment by all sides to work with UN-AU mission in Darfur. I have emphasised in Khartoum today the pressing requirement for urgent humanitarian help and security cooperation as the basis for serious political dialogue.
	The UN and the AU have begun a preliminary fact-finding investigation into the attack, which will be followed by an official investigation.

Sudan: War Crimes

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the International Criminal Court on the possible citation of President al-Bashir of Sudan; and what assessment has been made of the  (a) diplomatic and  (b) political implications of such a citation.

Meg Munn: As a State Party to the International Criminal Court, the UK has regular contacts with the court at official level, including with the Prosecutor and his Office, over a range of matters, including the on-going investigation into the situation in Darfur referred to the Prosecutor by UN Security Council Resolution 1593 (2005). All contacts with the Prosecutor and his Office, and with others at the court, take place on the clear understanding of the court's, and the Prosecutor's, independent status and competence. It would be inappropriate and premature at this stage to comment or speculate on the outcome of the court's deliberations and the range of possible diplomatic and political implications.
	We continue to urge all sides to show restraint, to implement the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and to engage in the African Union/UN-led political process for Darfur.

Tibet: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese government on reported human rights abuses against Tibetan people.

Meg Munn: We continue to monitor the situation in Tibet and the surrounding region. We have expressed our concern regularly to the Chinese authorities, both in Beijing and London, and continue to urge them to respect fully the human rights of those detained; to avoid use of excessive force in dealing with unrest; and to respect freedom of expression and religion in Tibet.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed Tibet several times with Foreign Minister Yang, most recently on 12 June when they met in Paris.

Tibet: Human Rights

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government have taken to establish the extent to which human rights abuses have occurred in the Tibetan province in the latest period for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: We have regularly raised our concerns with the Chinese government about reported human rights abuses in Tibet following the recent unrest. I refer my hon. Friend to my response to written parliamentary question 218331 on 17 July,  Official Report, columns 690-91W. We continue to monitor the situation closely.

Tibet: Human Rights

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Chinese authorities on the systematic removal by Chinese troops of symbols of religious importance and other valuable antiquities from monasteries in occupied Tibet.

Meg Munn: We regularly urge the Chinese government to respect and protect Tibetan cultural values and religious beliefs and continue to raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese government at the highest levels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary did this most recently when he met the Chinese Foreign Minister on 12 June. Our officials also discussed freedom of religion in detail during the last round of the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue which took place in Beijing at the end of January.

Tibet: Politics and Government

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese authorities on the situation in occupied Tibet.

Meg Munn: We continue to closely monitor the situation in Tibet and the surrounding region. We have expressed our concern regularly to the Chinese authorities, both in Beijing and London, and continue to urge them to respect fully the human rights of those detained; to avoid use of excessive force in dealing with unrest; and to respect freedom of expression and religion in Tibet. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has discussed Tibet several times with Foreign Minister Yang, most recently on 12 June.
	We continue to emphasise that the current political difficulties in Tibet can best be resolved through dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama and his representatives. We are pleased that the two sides have restarted the process of dialogue, meeting in Shenzhen in May and again in Beijing from 1-2 July. We hope that a further round will be convened again soon and that this will make substantive progress.

USA: Administration of Justice

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his US counterparts on the exercise of the principle of extraterritoriality of US jurisdiction and its effect on UK companies.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not raised the exercise of the principle of extraterritoriality of US jurisdiction with his US counterparts. However, Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with UK companies about applications of US extraterritoriality and officials raise issues with US interlocutors around the excessive extraterritorial reach of US jurisdiction, as appropriate.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the UN mission to the Western Sahara monitors the human rights situation; and what discussions he has had with MINURSO on this matter.

Kim Howells: The UK continues to support the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). MINURSO's mandate does not include human rights monitoring, and while I have not held recent talks with MINURSO, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in New York and Rabat are in regular contact with MINURSO representatives. Julian Harsten, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General to the Western Sahara, and MINURSO colleagues met with our Ambassador in Rabat on 27 June to discuss the latest developments in the region.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in negotiations at the UN on the future of the Western Sahara; and what recent representations the UK has made on this matter.

Kim Howells: The UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy to the Western Sahara, Peter van Walsum, chaired negotiations between the parties to the dispute in June and August 2007, and January and March 2008. Progress has been slow and in his report of 14 April, the UN Secretary-General called on the parties to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations. The UK supported the UN Security Council Resolution 1813 (30 April) in its call for the parties to co-operate fully with the UN and with each other to end the current impasse to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self determination of the people of Western Sahara.

Western Sahara: Politics and Government

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Moroccan Government on progress towards meeting its obligations to the people of the Western Sahara, with particular reference to mineral rights.

Kim Howells: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed Western Sahara with his Moroccan counterpart. In my recent visit to Morocco in April, I echoed the words of the UN Secretary-General and called on all parties to engage in negotiations under the auspices of the UN in a spirit of compromise and realism. I also encouraged greater transparency in the field of human rights in Western Sahara in order to foster greater confidence between the parties. After a further round of negotiations held in March this year, UN Security Council Resolution 1813 was adopted on 30 April. It called on the parties to continue to show political will to enter into a more intensive and substantive phase of negotiations. The UK has welcomed these negotiations and has encouraged the parties to maintain their commitment to the process.
	No representation has been made to Morocco regarding the use of mineral resources in Western Sahara. The UK's long standing position remains that Morocco, the de facto administering power of Western Sahara, is obliged under international law to ensure that economic activities under their administration do not adversely affect the interests of the people of Western Sahara, and this includes their de facto control over most of the territory and maritime resources of Western Sahara.

TRANSPORT

A1(M): Hertfordshire

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward plans to widen the A1(M) between Welwyn and Stevenage.

Tom Harris: There are no proposals to widen this section of the A1(M). The widening of the A1(M) between Welwyn and Stevenage is not in the East of England Regional Assembly's list of schemes to be prioritised for construction before 2015. The Region will have the opportunity to review its programme later this year and make recommendations to the Secretary of State should they wish to bring an A1(M) widening scheme forward.

A10: Royston

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward plans for a Royston southern by-pass on the A10.

Tom Harris: We are not aware of any plans for a Royston Southern by-pass on the A10 road. As the A10 is not a trunk road, any plans would have to be proposed by the local authority, in this case Hertfordshire county council, and submitted to the Regional Transport Forum for consideration of funding through the Regional Funding Allocation along with other regional proposals.

Biofuels

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will make it her policy to revise the carbon sustainability and reporting requirements for biofuels in respect of biodiesel from palm oil grown on tropical peatland; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 17 July 2008
	The detail of the reporting requirements under the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) is a matter for the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA). The RFA has produced guidance on the carbon and sustainability information that is required from transport fuel suppliers, which is available via the RFA's website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/
	The Government have encouraged transport fuel suppliers to source biofuels produced from feedstocks which meet qualifying environmental standards under the RTFO. In order for suppliers to report that their biofuel has met a qualifying standard, they must ensure that its production has not destroyed or damaged large above or below ground carbon stocks, and that it has not taken place on soils with a large risk of significant carbon losses such as peatlands.
	At EU level, the UK has been pressing for mandatory sustainability criteria to apply to all biofuels. If adopted in the form currently proposed in the draft renewable energy directive, these would ensure that from around 2010 or 2011 biofuels produced on newly deforested tropical peatland would be ineligible for support anywhere in the EU.

Bus Services: Concessions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward proposals to extend concessionary bus travel for school and college students.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport has no immediate plans to extend further the coverage of statutory concessions to school and college students. Local authorities retain the discretion to offer concessionary travel enhancements to young people in their area based on their assessment of local needs and circumstances, and many choose to do so.
	Extending statutory concessions to young people could have significant cost and operational implications, especially as travel to school is during the morning peak and could have the unintended consequence of actually reducing the numbers walking or cycling to school.
	From September 2008 the Education and Inspections Act 2006 extends entitlement to free school transport for pupils entitled to free school meals or whose parents are in receipt of maximum working tax credit. At secondary age, pupils attending one of their three nearest schools that is between two and six miles from their home, and those attending their nearest school preferred on grounds of religion or belief between two and 15 miles, will be entitled to free school transport.

Bus Services: Fares

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the year-on-year percentage change in adult bus fares in  (a) passenger transport executive areas,  (b) London and  (c) other areas of England was in each year since 1986 before the effects of local and national changes in concessionary travel.

Rosie Winterton: The following table shows the estimated percentage change in local bus fares in each year from 1985-86 to 2006-07 for England, London, passenger transport executive (PTE) areas and other areas. The estimate for 2006-07 has been adjusted to show change before the likely estimated effect of the introduction of concessionary bus fares on 1 April 2006.
	Data are not available for the period which covers the introduction of the national concession on 1 April 2008. Data are not available to adjust the data series for any discretionary local concessionary arrangements.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   London  English PTE areas  English non-PTE areas  England 
			 1986-87 6 27 5 11 
			 1987-88 5 9 5 6 
			 1988-89 11 6 5 6 
			 1989-90 10 8 8 8 
			 1990-91 10 11 10 10 
			 1991-92 10 12 8 9 
			 1992-93 8 7 4 6 
			 1993-94 8 5 3 5 
			 1994-95 6 4 4 5 
			 1995-96 5 5 4 5 
			 1996-97 4 5 5 5 
			 1997-98 4 6 5 5 
			 1998-99 4 5 5 4 
			 1999-2000 3 5 5 4 
			 2000-01 0 4 5 4 
			 2001-02 -2 5 5 4 
			 2002-03 -1 4 5 3 
			 2003-04 2 4 5 4 
			 2004-05 8 4 5 6 
			 2005-06 10 8 7 8 
			 2006-07 8 6 6 7 
			  Note: The data for 2006-07 have been adjusted to show the change before the likely estimated effect of the introduction of concessionary bus fares on 1 April 2006.

Calder Valley Railway Line

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to introduce additional rolling stock on the Calder Valley line; and how many units are to be introduced.

Tom Harris: We have specified that capacity for an extra 5,100 peak passengers should be provided into Leeds by 2014. Given forecast demand, it is likely the Calder Valley line will be one of the routes benefiting from this extra capacity. We are in discussion with the train operating companies on the best way to add peak capacity but it is not possible at this stage to say how it will be allocated between routes and how many additional carriages will operate on individual routes.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in her Department when not in use and  (b) the cost of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Neither the Department nor its agencies has the information to answer the question as requested.
	As recorded in the answer I gave the hon. Member on 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 852W, the Department and its agencies all have policies of switching off computer devices (PCs, monitors, and printers) when not in use, and at night, and staff are regularly reminded to do so.
	Apart from occasional compliance surveys at headquarters buildings there is no mechanism to estimate the number of individual computers left on overnight and when not in use, and there are no plans to introduce this.
	DfT (Central) operates an automatic shutdown of non-essential computers from 7 pm every Friday. A monitoring analysis of the effect of this indicates annual savings of 3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions (13.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide) and a cost saving of 2,600.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many  (a) officials in her Department and  (b) employees of (i) agencies and (ii) other bodies reporting to her Department were (A) dismissed and (B) disciplined for matters related to their conduct in the last two years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Central Department and its agencies recorded the following instances of disciplinary action relating to employee performance in the period of the last two financial years:
	
		
			   Number of occurrences 
			 Dismissed 61 
			 Disciplined 278 
		
	
	These figures exclude those of the Highways Agency, who could provide the information only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of her Department's budget and that of its predecessor was spent on research in each of the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: Detailed historic information about budgets, and information prior to the formation of the Department for Transport in 2002, is not available. The following figures show the proportion of the Department's total DEL expenditure used on research between 2002-03 and 2007-08.
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 ( 3) 2007-08 
			 DfT Research ( million)(1) 53 70 59 56 62 62 
			
			 Total DfT expenditure ( million)(2) 9,559 10,760 10,650 10,294 12,521 12,796 
			
			 Research percentage of total 0.55 0.65 0.55 0.54 0.50 0.48 
			 (1) Taken from Table 2.1 of the SET Statistics (Science, Engineering and Technology indicators). These data can be found at http:/www.berr.gov.uk/dius/science/science-funding/set-stats/index.html (2) Taken from Table A1, (pages 207 and 208) of the Department for Transport Annual Report 2008, representing the sum of total resource DEL (including near and non-cash) and total capital DEL, less depreciation. (3) Figures shown for 2007-08 are provisional.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many working days have been lost due to sickness among employees for which her Department and its predecessor were responsible for each year since 1997.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department was first established in May 2002. The number of working days lost due to sickness are:
	
		
			   Days 
			 2003 164,237.5 
			 2004 175,860 
			 2005 184,101 
			 2006 188,666 
			 2007 206,608

Departmental Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2008 to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet,  Official Report, columns 399-400W, on departmental travel, if she will break down the spend on travel by body.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The breakdown for the central Department and its agencies for the last three financial years are contained in the following table:
	
		
			   
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 DFT Rail 89,531 153,944 151,152 
			 DFT(c) 4,740,256 5,508,671  
			 DSA   4,581,027 
			 DVLA 626,723 679,155 685,369 
			 GCDA 198,082 161,394 1.92,285 
			 HA 4,549,000 4,737,000 4,697,000 
			 MCA 1,985,177 1,955,431 2,124,759 
			 VCA 461,979 378,745 432,074 
			 VOSA
			 Total 12,650,748 13,574,340 12,863,666

Departmental Travel

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department spent on taxi travel for staff in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Five of the Department's seven agencies (DVLA, GCDA, HA, VOSA and MCA) do not record taxi spend separately from other travel costs, and the information could be only provided at disproportionate cost. Figures for the remaining two agencies, DFT(c) and for DFT (Rail) are included in the following table:
	
		
			   
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 VCA 2,581.85 2,416.75 2,061.86 
			 DSA  11,256 20,556 
			 DFT Rail 15,272.56 10,615.94 14,457.63 
			 DFT(c) 123,128.94   
		
	
	DSA did not record taxi costs separately before 2006, and the information could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Figures for DFT(c) for 2006-07, and 2007-08 are not currently available, but we expect that they will be by the end of July.

Driving Offences

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions she has had with her European colleagues on the possibility of penalty points given to foreign drivers by UK authorities being recognised in other European countries.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have had discussions with my Irish and Northern Ireland colleagues. We announced on 26 June the decision of the UK and Ireland to work together towards the mutual recognition of one another's penalty points for motoring offences, including the mutual recognition of penalty points between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
	We intend that the lessons learnt from co-operating with Ireland in this way will advise any further discussions we may have with other European colleagues going forward.

Exhaust Emissions: Pollution Control

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken to make low carbon travel a priority in  (a) local transport plans, ( b) local area agreements and  (c) local development frameworks.

Rosie Winterton: Developing low carbon travel is becoming increasingly important at the local level. Guidance published in 2004 on the second round of Local Transport Plans (LTPs1) encouraged local transport authorities to consider measures to tackle climate change. The Local Transport Bill currently before the House includes a new duty on local authorities to have regard to the protection or improvement of the environment in developing and implementing policies to be included in local transport plans. We expect to publish draft guidance on future plans towards the end of the year.
	In recently agreed local area agreements 100 local authorities have adopted a target relating to indicator NI186Per capita reduction in CO2 emissions in the LA area. The Department will work closely with authorities and other Departments concerned to help meet the agreed targets.
	The Department has also supported the development of PPS1Planning and Climate Change (which supplements the main Planning Policy Statement). This was published in December 2007 and provides guidance to authorities preparing local development frameworks.

Freight

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what volume of goods was transported within the UK by  (a) road,  (b) rail,  (c) aeroplane and  (d) waterway in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table provides figures for the years 2002 to 2006, the latest years for which information is available for all modes.
	
		
			  Table 1: Domestic freight transport: by mode: 2002 to 2006 
			   Goods lifted (million tonnes) 
			  Water( 3) 
			   Road (GB)  Rail( 1) (GB)  Aviation( 2 ) (UK)  Total (UK)  O f which : I nland waters (UK) 
			 2002 1,734 87 0.055 139 49 
			 2003 1,753 89 0.059 133 47 
			 2004 1,863 100(4) 0.062 127 45 
			 2005 1,868 105(5) 0.068 133 49 
			 2006 1,936 108 0.068 126 51 
			 (1 )Figures for rail are for financial years. (2 )Domestic cargo handled at UK airports adjusted to eliminate double counting and excluding mail and passengers' luggage. (3 )Includes coastwise traffic and one port traffic (sea dredged aggregates and traffic with offshore installations) as well as inland waterway traffic. The component of this traffic using inland waterways is shown separately. (4 )Break in the series, increase largely due to changes in coverage (5 )Figures from 2005 onwards include some of the tonnes lifted by GB railfreight.  Sources:  Department for Transport, Office of Rail Regulation, Civil Aviation Authority

Fuels: Prices

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of taxes on fuel in decreasing car usage.

Angela Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	HM Revenue and Customs estimates the impact of a change in fuel duty on the distance travelled by vehicles using historic data. Other things being equal, an increase in fuel duty leads to a reduction in distance travelled, although the effect is not one-for-one because many road transport journeys are non-discretionary.

Helicopters: Sea Rescue

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many search and rescue helicopters the Maritime Coastguard Agency plans to order in the next 10 years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Search and Rescue helicopter provision is managed through a commercial contract. They expect that to be the case over the next 10 years. The contract specifies the service provision required. The physical number of helicopters to meet that service provision is a matter for the contractor.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she informed Network Rail that they had to consider the possibility of introducing new high speed lines in the United Kingdom;
	(2)  if she will place in the Library the specification she has given Network Rail for their new lines study;
	(3)  whether she has asked Network Rail to look into any specific proposals as part of the new lines study;
	(4)  what the commissioned price of the Network Rail new lines study is.

Tom Harris: In the Towards a Sustainable Transport System document of October 2007 we proposed the generation of a broad range of options, which is why the Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network in March 2008. In response to this on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced, a strategic review of the case for new rail lines. Network Rail has developed its own remit for this work. The costs of the study will be borne by Network Rail reflecting their network planning function.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the capacity which could be created on the  (a) West Coast Main Line and  (b) East Coast Main Line by the formation of a new high-speed rail line in addition to the current tracks along those routes.

Tom Harris: Any new rail line would create significant additional capacity on both new and existing lines. On 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines, including the additional capacity that would be created. It will consider five of Network Rail's strategic routes, north and west of London: Chiltern, East Coast West Coast, Great Western and Midland Main Lines.

High Speed Trains

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings she has had with Network Rail to discuss high-speed rail in the last 12 months.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State regularly meets Network Rail to discuss a range of issues of common interest.

High Speed Trains

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the study being conducted by Network Rail into high-speed rail lines was commissioned by her Department.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network in March 2008. In response to this, on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines.

Highways Agency: Telephone Services

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what income her Department received from the Highways Agency 0845 number in  (a) 2007-08,  (b) 2006-07 and  (c) 2005-06.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency Information Line (08457 504030) enables the public to call to receive information on the motorways and trunk road network.
	Calls to this number cost no more than 4p a minute. It does not generate any revenue for the Highways Agency.

Lorries: Accidents

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many and what percentage of reported motorway traffic incidents involved a heavy goods vehicle with left-hand drive in  (a) 2005,  (b) 2006 and  (c) 2007; and what percentage of those incidents were attributed to poor visibility or blind spots on such vehicles.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The number and percentage of reported personal injury motorway traffic accidents involving a left-hand drive heavy goods vehicle and the percentage of these accidents where the heavy goods vehicle had 'vehicle blind spot' as a contributory factor are shown in the table.
	
		
			   2005  2006  2007 
			 Number of motorway injury accidents involving at least one left-hand drive heavy goods vehicle (HGV) 593 513 470 
			 Percentage of all motorway injury accidents involving at least one left-hand drive HGV 7 6 6 
			 Percentage of motorway injury accidents involving at least one left-hand drive HGV where the HGV had 'vehicle blind spot' as a contributory factor 40 40 36

Motor Vehicles: Accidents

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many reported deaths there were in  (a) Leeds West constituency,  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District and  (c) Yorkshire and Humberside as a result of traffic accidents in each of the last five years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The numbers of fatalities resulting from personal injury road accidents in  (a) Leeds West constituency,  (b) Leeds city council and  (c) Government office region of Yorkshire and Humberside, for the last five years are given in the table:
	
		
			  Number of fatalities 
			   Leeds West Constituency( 1)  Leeds city council  Government office of Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 2003 3 45 318 
			 2004 5 45 311 
			 2005 1 27 302 
			 2006 1 40 304 
			 2007 3 34 281 
			 (1) Based on 2004 parliamentary boundaries

Motor Vehicles: Fuels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what legislative changes are required to extend the target dates for the renewables transport fuel obligation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government has stated that it intends to consult formally on slowing down the rate of increase in the renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO), taking the level to 5 per cent. (by volume) by 2013-14, in line with the Gallagher review's recommendation.
	Subject to the outcome of this consultation, any changes to the level of the RTFO would need to be made through an amendment to the RTFO Order 2007 (SI no 3072). The draft amending order would be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure, and would therefore require a debate on its content in both Houses of Parliament.

Motorways

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effects on  (a) safety and  (b) access to incidents for emergency services of the opening of hard shoulders on motorways to general use.

Tom Harris: A detailed safety assessment, including the impact on access to incidents for emergency vehicles, was completed prior to the implementation of the M42 Active Traffic Management Pilot.
	All aspects of the use of the hard shoulder as a running lane have been monitored on the M42 Active Traffic Management Pilot for the last 12 months. These early results indicate a significant improvement in safety and a reduction in incidents.

Motorways

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the risks to the operation of hard shoulder running on motorways arising from power failures to  (a) CCTV cameras and  (b) control rooms.

Tom Harris: The hazard analysis and risk assessment for the M42 active traffic management pilot scheme included an assessment of the impact of power supply failures to equipment at the roadside (including closed circuit television) and at the Regional Control Centre. The impact of power supply failure on active traffic management was assessed by the Highways Agency who concluded that there was no case for additional emergency supplies for the operation of the signs and signals.
	The Regional Control Centre is provided with emergency power supplies to allow continued operation in the event of a power failure. Any section of the motorway with hard shoulder running operates in fail safe mode which means that a power failure does not introduce any additional hazard.

Motorways: Accidents

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents have occurred on motorways since 2005.

Tom Harris: There has been a total of 22,240 road traffic accidents on motorways in the three year period 2005 to 2007 that have resulted in personal injury. The statistics include all motorways that are the responsibility of the Highways Agency. The latest figures available are for 2007.

Railway Network: Bicycles

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance her Department issues to train operating companies on the carriage of bicycles on trains.

Tom Harris: The Department's cycling policy document and the rail White Paper published last year set out our policy. We want all TOCs to take into account the wider benefits of cycling when considering both investments in cycle facilities and their own rules for carrying cycles.
	The White Paper also announced the setting up of a task force to look into how bike and rail journeys can be better integrated. The task force includes ATOC, Network Rail, Passenger Focus, Cycling England and Transport for London. I look forward to hearing about their progress later this year.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  with reference to the answer to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) of 29 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1694W, on railways, if she will place in the Library copies of the equivalent data for 2007-08;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1068W, on railways: rolling stock, for what reason and on what date her Department ceased to hold and collate this information.

Tom Harris: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 19 June. This information has never been routinely collected in the Department.

Railways: Electrification

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1066W, on railways: electrification, how many staff were engaged in this work in each month of the last two years.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport does not hold information in the form requested. A number of officials within the Department are currently supporting the industry's work on electrification, in particular by providing technical and economic advice. This is to meet the Secretary of State's aim of developing a prioritised list of potential routes for electrification by the end of the year.

Railways: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the effect of currency fluctuations on the cost of the Intercity Express programme.

Tom Harris: The effects of currency fluctuations on the Intercity Express programme costs were considered in the business case and will be taken into account during the assessment of bids.

Railways: Finance

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1066-7W, on railways: finance, how much of the financial allocation for rail  (a) has been allocated in 2008-09 and  (b) was allocated in 2007-08 to (i) each train operating company and (ii) Network Rail.

Tom Harris: holding answer 17 July 2008
	Funding for the railways is made up of a combination of direct Government grants to Network Rail, subsidy and premium payments to and from train operating companies (TOCs), along with income from the farebox. The bulk of Network Rail's income, as determined by the Office of Rail Regulation, is in turn made up of those Government grants and track access charges levied on the train operating companies (TOCs). A proportion of the income from subsidy and farebox revenue will go towards paying track access charges to Network Rail.
	In view of this it is not possible to allocate Government funding for the railway to individual railway beneficiaries. That said, payments and premiums to and from individual TOCs and grant payments to Network Rail for 2007-8 will be published shortly by the Office of Rail Regulation in National Rail Trends. In addition, a table showing contracted payments and premiums to and from all TOCs who have extant contracts with the Government is available in the Library of the House.

Railways: Overcrowding

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answers of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1067W, on railways: overcrowding, when her Department's formula to determine train capacity, derived from dividing the interior size of a passenger vehicle by 0.45 square metres, was first used; and whether the divisor in the formula has ever varied from 0.45 square metres.

Tom Harris: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The standard of 0.45 square metres for determining train capacity was first used by the Office for Passenger Rail Franchising in 2000, and continues to apply today.
	There are two specific variations: Class 376 trains, operating on Southeastern services; and for services operated by Stagecoach South West Trains to and from London Waterloo.
	New (Class 376) purpose-built vehicles ordered for Southeastern are configured to serve short-distance Metro passenger flows, and the stock has been specifically configured with low density seating and appropriate grab rails for standing passengers, to ensure that passengers can stand in relative comfort for short-distance journeys; the same is true for Class 455 units operated by Stagecoach South West Trains, on services that stop within 20 minutes of leaving London Waterloo. In these cases the standard is varied to 0.35 and 0.25 square metres respectively.

Railways: Standards

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2008,  Official Report, column 405W, to the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) on railways: standards, for what reason and upon what date her Department ceased to gather data on the causes of train cancellation.

Tom Harris: Operational data on rail performance, including the reasons for each cancellation, is compiled by Network Rail and agreed with other rail industry parties.
	The Department for Transport receives higher level information on rail performance, but does not monitor the operation of every train. This has been the case since the start of rail franchising in 1996.

Road Safety Act 2006

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she expects the continuous insurance enforcement body provided for in the Road Safety Act 2006 to be established.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The current expectation is that DVLA will be the prime public body responsible for delivery of continuous insurance enforcement with a key role being played by the Motor Insurance Bureau which holds the motor insurance database. The detail of the scheme is still under consideration and we intend to consult later in the year, including on the potential timetable for implementation

Road Traffic Control

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the level of road congestion in each of the last five years, broken down by constituency.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport does not hold data on congestion by constituency.
	For the strategic roads network in England congestion is monitored using journey time reliability. Journey time reliability is the average delay for the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys measured over the period of a year. Delay is calculated as the difference between observed journey time and a reference journey time (the time that could theoretically be achieved when the traffic is free flowing).
	Reliability has only been monitored since the year August 2004-July 2005. Since that time, delays for the slowest 10 per cent. of journeys have increased from 3.78 minutes per 10 miles to 3.92 minutes per 10 miles in the year June 2007-to May 2008. The yearly figures are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Period  Delay for strategic roads in England (minutes per 10 miles) 
			 August 2004 to July 2005 3.78 
			 August 2005 to July 2006 3.78 
			 August 2006 to July 2007 4.19 
			 June 2007 to May 2008 3.92 
		
	
	For the large urban networks congestion is monitored through change in peak period speeds. The following table shows peak period speeds across large urban areas in England in 2002, 2004 and 2006, based on surveys conducted by this Department and Transport for London:
	
		
			  Miles per hour 
			   2000-03  2003-06  2006-09 
			  London
			 Central 9.9 10.6 9.3 
			 Inner 11.6 11.7 11.2 
			 Outer 16.9 16.3  
		
	
	
		
			   2002  2004  2006 
			 West Midlands 21.1 20.5 18.9 
			 Greater Manchester 23.2 21.0 18.5 
			 Leeds/Bradford 20.1 20.4 20.8 
			 Tyneside 27.8 24.7 25.5 
			 Merseyside 23.7 19,8 18.7 
			 Sheffield 18.8 18.6 19.0 
			 
			 Bristol 23.2 19.0 20.2 
			 Nottingham 15.9 16.4 16.5 
			 Leicester 15.6 14.7 15.8 
			 Stoke/Newcastle-under-Lyme 24.3 16.0 17.8 
			 Teesside 36.2 33.1 35.9 
			 Hull 18.8 20.0 21.5 
			 Bournemouth/Poole 21.0 19.4 19.6 
			 Brighton/Hove 27.0 29.6 29.7 
			 Plymouth 23.3 22.0 20.3 
			 Southampton 16.7 19.5 17.7 
			 Blackpool 18.8 19.4 19.7 
			 Portsmouth 25.8 27.5 28.5

Roads: Delays

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the average delay was on the  (a) A23,  (b) A52,  (c) A158,  (d) A338,  (e) A35,  (f) A522,  (g) A243,  (h) A3,  (i ) A390,  (j) A30,  (k) A429 and  ( l ) A27 in each year since 1997.

Tom Harris: holding answer 21 July 2008
	 The Department for Transport only monitors delays for certain routes that form part of the strategic road network. The earliest available data for these routes are for the period August 2004 -July 2005. These routes include sections of the A23, A52, A35, A3, A30 and A27. For information on average delays for these routes, I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 2 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 1029-1030W.

Roads: Fees and Charges

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether any Transport Innovation Fund pump priming funds are being used to promote congestion charging in Manchester; and what restrictions apply to the use of such funding for campaigning in a referendum on congestion charging;
	(2)  what funding will be provided by her Department to groups campaigning  (a) for and  (b) against congestion charging in the forthcoming referendum in Manchester.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 14 July 2008
	 Transport Innovation Fund Pump Priming Funds are available for:
	the development of TIF Business Cases for TIF Programme Entry;
	proposals that have been formally submitted and where authorities are providing further information to support the assessment by Department for Transport and in parallel developing elements of the proposal while waiting for a programme entry decision;
	preparatory costs for proposals between Programme Entry and Conditional Approval.
	Funds may not be used for activities of a political nature. DFT funds are being used to support the full local public consultation on the Greater Manchester TIF bid which started on the 7 July. We have agreed with Greater Manchester that their consultation will need to meet standards for public consultation set out in Cabinet Office guidance.
	The decision on whether to hold a local referendum would be for the Greater Manchester authorities and would be for them to decide the detail on how any poll is run. The Department will not provide funding to groups campaigning in any local referendum.

Rolling Stock

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new items of rolling stock have been approved by her Department for use by each train operating company in the current franchise period of each.

Tom Harris: holding answer 14 July 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the following information:
	
		
			  TOC  New build rolling stock authorised (carriages)  Year of introduction  Comments 
			 Arriva Cross Country 0   
			 c2c 296 1999-2002  
			 Chiltern 29 2003-2008  
			 East Midlands 0   
			 First Capital Connect 0   
			 First Trans Pennine 153 2004-05  
			 Greater Western 0   
			 London Midland 219 2008-10  
			 Northern 0   
			 NX East Anglia 0   
			 NX East Coast 0   
			 South Central 134 2004, 2011  
			 South Eastern 174 2009 High speed stock. Ordered before current franchise 
			 South Western 0   
			 Virgin West Coast 477 2001-2005 A further 106 vehicles currently being procured for introduction in 2012 
		
	
	The figures shown are for new-build stock only, authorised from the beginning of each franchise until 9 July 2008. The figures do not reflect any changes in fleet size at each TOC as new rolling stock may replace, or it may be in addition to, existing stock. Also, older stock may be transferred into an operator, so most TOCs showing as 'no new vehicles' actually see an increase in fleet size.
	The HLOS programme, Thameslink programme and InterCity Express project will deliver additional new-build rolling stock.

Rolling Stock: Finance

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the effect of the strength of the euro on the cost of new Pendolino carriages on the West Coast Main Line.

Tom Harris: The costs of the new Pendolino carriages on the West Coast Main Line comprises two elements: the first being the purchase of the carriages, while the second, and more dominant cost, being that of maintenance until 2022. The cost of the carriages in euros has been assessed at a less favourable rate than the current exchange rate. This means a worsening case scenario has been tested and the business case remains positive. All maintenance costs until 2022 will be incurred in the UK and are not subject to any exchange risk.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many proposals for the acquisition of rolling stock have been made at the informal discussion stage to her Department by train operating companies since 1st January; which companies have made such proposals; and what response her Department has made to each.

Tom Harris: Informal discussions between train operating companies and the Department for Transport are commercially confidential; proposals for rolling stock acquisition would in any case be made later, as part of a formal process.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the effect of changes over the last 12 months in  (a) the sterling to euro exchange rate,  (b) raw material costs and  (c) the cost of capital on the cost of (i) new Pendolino carriages for the West Coast Main Line, (ii) the InterCity Express Programme and (iii) the 1,300 extra carriages promised in the Government's high level output statement of July 2007.

Tom Harris: All the effects of currency fluctuations on the Pendolino lengthening project; the Intercity Express programme; and the 1,300 extra carriages promised in the high level output specification have been included in the appropriate business cases.
	The effects of raw material costs together with the current cost of capital and any exchange rate alterations will be taken into account during the assessment of all the received bids.
	The three projects are in various stages of the competitive bid process, where all aspects of the final offer prices are evaluated. Risk assessments are carried out on a monthly basis and the business cases remain positive.

Severn Tunnel

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether her Department has identified any long-term structural problems in the Severn Tunnel.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's Chief Executive at the following address for a response to his question:
	Iain Coucher
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London, NW1 2EE.

Thames River Crossing

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on the Thames River Crossing; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The proposed Thames Gateway bridge is a Transport for London project, and is therefore a matter for the Mayor.
	In terms of the Crossing at Dartford, the Department is undertaking a review that considers making better use of the existing Dartford infrastructure and the possible requirement for a new Lower Thames Crossing. This is expected to report around the end of 2008.

Thameslink: Rolling Stock

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which company manufactured, and in which country, the trains in service on Thameslink routes.

Tom Harris: The current Thameslink routes are served by a fleet of class 319 electrical multiple units (EMUs) which were built by British Rail Engineering Ltd. (BREL) in the UK. Over the next few years, as the Thameslink Programme progresses, a number of additional routes will be incorporated into the Thameslink network. The services on these routes are currently operated by class 317 EMUs also built by BREL in the UK, class 365 EMUs built by ABB Transportation (the successor to BREL) in the UK and class 375 and 377 Electrostar EMUs built by Bombardier Transportation (the successor to ABB) in the UK.

Transport: Carbon Emissions

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 16 July 2008, on roads, if she will estimate the annual change in carbon dioxide emissions that will result from the implementation of the proposals in the statement.

Rosie Winterton: The carbon impacts depend on scheme by scheme decisions. We always assess the impacts on carbon of all major schemes as part of the NATA appraisal process. Carbon impacts will therefore be assessed as scheme proposals are developed in detail.
	When deciding whether to increase road capacity to improve traffic flows and reduce congestion, we will take account of any impact this will have on the overall level of CO2 emissions from transport. In cases where we decide to go ahead with increasing capacity, we will build the CO2 impacts into our plans to keep CO2 emissions within the carbon budgets set under the Climate Change Bill.

Transport: Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocation  (a) her Department and  (b) the Highways Agency has made for consultancy fees, excluding technical transport related consultancy, in relation to (i) roads, (ii) railways and (iii) administration in 2008-09.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department does not break down its budget for consultancy into technical and non-technical transport related consultancy. The requested information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	For the Highways Agency, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1452W, on transport: consultants.

Transport: Consultants

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1452W, on transport: consultants, what consultancy services are budgeted for by her Department in relation to  (a) roads,  (b) railways and  (c) other matters in 2008-09.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The types of consultancy services that the Department purchases are Information Technology, Finance, Transport, Human Resources, Management Consultancy, Property Construction and Estates, Legal and some types of research. However, to provide budget information for each type of service for the current year could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Transport: Fuels

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, columns 1195-6W, on transport: fuels, if she will place in the Library copies of the most recent sensitivity analyses produced for a high oil price scenario.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 14 July 2008
	Copies of the following reports have been placed in the Libraries of the House:
	Road Transport Forecasts for England 2007Results from the Department for Transport's National Transport Model.
	Transport Demand to 2025 and the Economic Case for Road Pricing and Investment.

Transport: West Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what spending her Department has provided to improve the transport infrastructure of West Sussex in the last 10 years.

Rosie Winterton: Since the introduction of local transport plans in 2000, West Sussex has received around 120 million for local transport improvements and maintenance schemes on local roads, as well as approximately 23 million for local major transport schemes and supplementary funding.
	Investment by the Highways Agency in smaller scale trunk road improvements has been in the order of 7 million, while further major scheme investment is currently being developed as part of the regional funding allocation, for the A27 at Chichester and the A23 at Handcross and Warninglid.
	West Sussex has also benefited from new trains and associated, power supply and depot upgrades delivered as part of the Mark 1 slam door stock replacement programmethe total value of the investment (benefiting West Sussex and other parts of London and the south-east) is in the region of 2 billion.

Transport: West Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps she is taking to reduce traffic congestion in  (a) West Sussex and  (b) Mid Sussex.

Rosie Winterton: The regional element of Towards a Sustainable Transport System (DfT's Response to Eddington) is still at the stage of identifying key challenges to be delivered post 2014. This will need to include mechanisms for, inter alia, barriers to productivity including addressing congestion and climate change.
	Steps currently being taken in West Sussex to reduce traffic congestion on trunk roads include:
	 Operational m anagement
	About 4.7 million Local Network Management Schemes.
	The HA's Traffic Officer service on the M23 dedicated to managing traffic and provide rapid response to clear debris, carry out immediate repairs and implement traffic management.
	Carrying out routine maintenance outside of peak travel times.
	 Infrastructure improvement (in current regional funding allocation)
	A23 Handcross to Warninglid (in Mid Sussex) (programmed for 2012).
	A27 Chichester bypass improvements (programmed for 2015).
	 Local Transport Improvements
	Local roads are the responsibility of West Sussex county council.
	Local Transport Plan funding to West Sussex over the last 10 years amounts to about 143 million. We do not have the data to identify a figure separately for local transport investment in Mid Sussex.
	Funding is allocated within the local authority according to local priorities. In its Local Transport Plan, West Sussex has identified congestion in the major centres and strategic roads as one of their top priorities.
	 Traffic Management
	The Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Local Transport Bill (currently before Parliament) shall give enhanced powers to local authorities in their quest to reduce traffic congestion.

Travelling People: St. Leonards

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when her Department will take steps to remove the unauthorised encampment at the Avon Heath lorry park off the A31 at St. Leonards.

Tom Harris: Since learning of the unauthorised encampment at Avon Heath lorry park on 19 May 2008, the Secretary of State has followed procedures under the relevant Acts to remove the Travellers. Steps to date have included all necessary site visits and welfare reports, serving a notice to vacate on the 16 June 2008 and preparing for a court hearing which is scheduled for 21 July at Bournemouth county court.

West Coast Main Line

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of the consequences for the delivery to schedule of the West Coast Main Line upgrade of any failure by Network Rail to meet each of the 25 milestones agreed with the Office of Rail Regulation, broken down by milestone.

Tom Harris: The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has reviewed Network Rail's delivery plan for the West Coast Main Line and concluded that the plan is achievable, provided Network Rail robustly and diligently manages the delivery of the work against the revised programme.
	In its Network Rail Monitor for 2007-08 published 5 June 2008, the ORR stated its intention to monitor 25 delivery milestones to certify that Network Rail remains on target to deliver the West Coast Main Line improvements. Two significant milestones were achieved on 5 and 29 May with the successful commissioning of new infrastructure on the Trent Valley four tracking project (Stages 1 and 3) and between Rugby and Nuneaton (Stage G).

West Coast Main Line

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will provide a monthly report on progress towards the 25 milestones for the West Coast Main Line upgrade agreed between the Office of Rail Regulation and Network Rail.

Tom Harris: The Department for Transport and Network Rail meet regularly to monitor progress on the West Coast Main Line. The 25 milestones are, however, matters between the Office of Rail Regulation and Network Rail.

JUSTICE

Antisocial Behaviour

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prosecutions have been brought and  (b) fixed penalty notices have been issued by (i) police and (ii) local authorities for (A) fly-tipping, (B) graffiti, (C) dog fouling, (D) the dropping of litter and (E) parking offences in each year since 2006.

Maria Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Jonathan Shaw) on 23 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 2053-2055W.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	Information held by DEFRA on fixed penalty notices for local authorities for 2007 will be available in the winter of 2008.

Bail

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many suspects have been granted conditional bail in courts in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many suspects were granted bail for indictable offences in courts in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many suspects granted bail in courts in England and Wales in each of the last five years were subsequently convicted and received a custodial sentence of  (a) up to 12 months,  (b) between 12 months and four years,  (c) over four years and  (d) an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection.

Jack Straw: Data showing the number of defendants remanded on bail, for all offences including indictable offences, by all courts in England and Wales for the years 1997 to 2006 can be found in the following table. The data include those held in custody at any stage during proceedings. The bail data supplied relate to the offence at the outcome of court proceedings, which may differ from the original charged offence. These data are taken from the 'Criminal Statistics, England and Wales' publications, 1997-2006. Data held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform do not distinguish between those released on conditional and unconditional bail.
	The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	My Department does not collect data in a form that enables identification of the number of defendants granted bail in courts in England and Wales in each of the last five years who were subsequently convicted and received a custodial sentence of  (a) up to 12 months,  (b) between 12 months and four years,  (c) over four years and  (d) an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection.
	
		
			  Estimated number of persons remanded on bail at magistrates' or the Crown Court, England and Wales, 1997-2006( 1) 
			  T housand 
			   Total number bailed at all courts( 3, 4) 
			  Offence group( 2)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Indictable 383.9 393.2 373.7 390.6 387.4 376.8 357.5 369.1 331.2 316.1 
			 Summary (other than motoring) 116.1 147.0 126.6 113.9 129.6 127.3 138.0 153.0 154.0 155.2 
			 Summary motoring 101.5 100.0 93.4 78.6 81.8 81.4 103.3 111.0 104.7 91.1 
			 Total 601.4 640.2 593.7 583.1 598.7 585.5 598.7 633.0 590.0 562.3 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) The offence is that which the defendant is acquitted or convicted of, which may differ from the original offence the defendant was charged with. (3) Includes those also held in custody at some stage and those failing to appear to bail. (4) Excludes defendants reported as failing to appear to a summons although some of these cases, having been initiated by a summons may have resulted in the defendant being remanded on bail.  Notes  1: Totals may not sum due to rounding. 2: Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source:  Court Proceedings Database.

Community Orders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether time spent travelling to unpaid work appointments counts towards an offender's community sentence.

David Hanson: In general, offenders are expected to travel to Unpaid Work appointments in their own time. If, however, they live in a location that requires them to spend more than 30 minutes travelling in each direction, the time over 30 minutes is credited against their sentence. The total amount of time credited in this way, however, must not exceed 10 per cent. of their sentence. Once they have reported for work, any time spent travelling to, or between, work sites is counted as part of their sentence.

Community Orders

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether hours in which an offender is available to perform unpaid work but work cannot take place count towards an offender's community sentence.

David Hanson: The current normal practice is that when an offender has reported for Unpaid Work but work cannot take place, the offender is allowed to go home and is credited with one hour. This is in accordance with a recommendation from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation. When it is necessary to terminate a work session early, normal practice is to credit the hours to the point at which the offender is discharged from work for the day. Guidance will be issued by the National Offender Management Service in respect of both of these points.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice is committed to reducing its carbon emissions under the campaign initiated by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Most of the Department's IT equipment is switched off over night, as a matter of routine. There are some PCs that have to be left on in order to safeguard overnight data processing on some systems. We are working with our IT suppliers to put in place a technical solution to address this. Meanwhile, staff using these PCs are advised to switch off printers and monitors only.
	Within the National Offender Management Service, including Her Majesty's Prison Service, computers that are logged off but left switched on will automatically shutdown.
	The cost of electricity consumption associated with specific electronic devices being left on cannot be determined as invoices do not distinguish this expenditure. We will be exploring whether this information could be obtained in the future.

Departmental Data Protection

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many files containing information about members of the public have been lost by his Department and its predecessor in each of the last five years.

Michael Wills: The number of lost files containing information about members of the public is not recorded centrally. However, my Department will be reporting on data security incidents in its resource accounts which were laid before the House on 21 July 2008.

Departmental Early Retirement

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) his Department's agencies have taken early retirement in the last two years.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007 bringing together the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and parts of the Home Office, namely the National Offender Management Service, including the prison and probation services and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform.
	The figures in the following table show the number of staff taking early retirement for the former Department for Constitutional Affairs for the period mentioned, and for the first complete year of the new Ministry of Justice.
	Staff taking early retirement has been taken to mean those staff retiring before their minimum retirement age. The minimum retirement age, of any member of the Ministry of Justice and associated agencies, is the earliest age at which anyone to whom the Pension Choices Scheme applies can retire with superannuation benefits. This is currently age 60 for most grades, or 55 for staff who have an entitlement to reserved rights under the 1987 'Fresh Start' arrangements.
	Information on the age of staff retiring has been derived from the Ministry's HR Chrimson, HM Prison Service personnel corporate database and Oracle HR management systems. All of these systems are liable to the normal inaccuracies associated with any large reporting system.
	
		
			  Number of staff retiring before their minimum retirement age 
			  April to May 
			   2006- 07  2007 - 08  Total 
			 Ministry of Justice n/a 87 87 
			 The former Department for Constitutional Affairs 32 n/a 32 
			 Her Majesty's Court Service 460 533 993 
			 Public Guardianship Office 4 4 8 
			 The Tribunal Service 35 50 85 
			 Wales Office 2 2 4 
			 Her Majesty's Prison Service n/a 174 174

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the percentage of  (a) white,  (b) African,  (c) Bangladeshi,  (d) Pakistani and  (e) African-Caribbean people are registered to vote in the UK.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any estimate of the percentage of  (a) White,  (b) African,  (c) Bangladeshi,  (d) Pakistani and  (e) African-Caribbean people registered to vote in the UK.
	However, the Electoral Commission found in their report, Understanding Electoral Registration, published in September 2005 that the groups least likely to be registered to vote included young people, those residing in private rented accommodation and those belonging to certain minority ethnic groups. Registration rates among White, Asian (those from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities) and Black Caribbean groups were similar.
	Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 placed a new duty on Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) to take all necessary steps to register eligible electors. These steps include sending the annual canvass form more than once, making house-to-house inquiries and inspecting records that the ERO is permitted to inspect. The Government believe that these steps should help to tackle under-registration.

House of Lords: Reform

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the White Paper on the reform of the House of Lords, what his working assumption is on the number of working peers appointed by the political parties between 2008 and 2013 for the purpose of calculating the number of peers under each alternative model outlined in section 8 of the White Paper.

Jack Straw: The modelling assumed that between now and 2013, 28 new life peers are appointed. Broadly, this reflects the current rate of appointments by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. No assumptions were made regarding party political nominations specifically, as there is no obvious basis on which to make assumptions about the number and timing of such appointments, because the pattern has varied considerably in the past.

Mentally Disturbed Offenders

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to ensure that the rights of victims and their families are safeguarded when a convicted person is subject to a hospital order rather than given a prison sentence; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: We have enhanced the rights of victims to information, where the offender is sentenced by way of a restricted hospital order, in the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. Those rights will be extended to cases where the offender receives an unrestricted hospital order by amendments in the Mental Health Act 2007, due to be implemented in November.
	Where the offender has a restricted hospital order, the National Offender Management Service works with victims who wish to be kept informed, advising them about the offender's management as far as medical confidentiality allows, and passing to decision makers any representations victims wish to make about conditions for their protection in the event of the offender's discharge from hospital.

Offenders: Death

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice in how many cases of the unexpected death of an offender while serving a custodial sentence in a prison or a young offender institution the family or next of kin of the deceased paid either some or all of the legal costs arising from inquest proceedings in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and what sum on average was paid by the family or next of kin in such cases.

Maria Eagle: Inquests into deaths in prison custody are inquisitorial fact-finding processes, heard by a coroner with a jury. The information is not available in the requested format but figures for the number of cases where funding has been provided for families through legal aid exceptional funding is given in the following table. Figures are not available on whether those who were granted legal aid also had to pay a contribution to their own legal costs, but contributions are not normally requested.
	
		
			   Number of cases granted exceptional funding  Number of cases exceptional funding refused/abandoned 
			 2003-04 70 15 
			 2004-05 54 20 
			 2005-06 93 13 
			 2006-07 80 20 
			 2007-08 87 13

Offensive Weapons: Convictions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) under 19 and  (b) over 18-year-olds have been convicted for illegally carrying (i) knives and (ii) other weapons in (A) 2007 and (B) 2008, broken down by police authority; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 1434-42W.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.

Offensive Weapons: Prosecutions

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 16 to 18 and  (c) over 18 years were (i) charged, (ii) convicted and (iii) sentenced to immediate custody for possession of a knife in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The number of persons aged 10 to 15, 16 to 18, and 19 and over, who were proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for possession of a knife, in England and Wales for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Charging data are not held by the Ministry of Justice. Information on numbers proceeded against has been provided in lieu of charging data.
	The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  N umber of persons aged 10 to 15, 16 to 18, and 19 and over, who were proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty, and sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for possession of a knife, in England and Wales, 2002 to 2006 
			   10-15  16-18  19 and over 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty  Immediate custody  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Immediate custody  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Immediate custody 
			 2002 440 360 13 1,200 964 65 5,323 4,014 695 
			 2003 378 323 13 1,137 921 60 5,413 4,152 688 
			 2004 470 400 8 1,214 1,004 78 5,668 4,486 729 
			 2005 486 418 15 1,233 1,034 79 5,600 4,553 876 
			 2006 529 477 18 1,364 1,145 93 5,806 4,747 964 
			  Notes: 1. These data are on the principal offence basis.  2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  3. Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description:  Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.3. Having an article with blade or point in public place.  Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139A (l)(5)(a) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.4(l). Having an article with blade or point on school premises.  Source:  CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Offensive Weapons: Prosecutions

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people aged  (a) between 10 and 17 years,  (b) between 18 and 24 years and  (c) 25 years and over were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of knife possession offences in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: Information on the number of persons proceeded against magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to possession of a knife, by age group, in England and Wales, for the years 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  N umber of persons proceeded against magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to possession of a knife, by age group, in England and Wales, 2002 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			   10-17  18-24  25 and over( 4)  10-17  18-24  25 and over( 4) 
			 2002 1,205 2,253 3,505 972 1,712 2,654 
			 2003 1,131 2,176 3,621 939 1,706 2,751 
			 2004 1,244 2,328 3,780 1,035 1,905 2,950 
			 2005 1,295 2,339 3,685 1,113 1,946 2,946 
			 2006 1,449 2,483 3,767 1,265 2,045 3,059 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Includes the following statutes and corresponding offence description:  Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.3. Having an article with blade or point in public place.  Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.139A (l)(5)(a) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.4(l). Having an article with blade or point on school premises. (3 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4 )May include a few persons aged 18 or over where the age did not form part of the data supplied.  Source:  CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Parc Prison: Health Services

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what facilities there are to provide health care to young people at Parc  (a) prison and  (b) young offender institution.

David Hanson: The delivery of primary health care provision at HM Prison and Young Offender Institution Parc forms part of the contractual arrangements between the Director of Offender Management in Wales and the operator. The Welsh Assembly Government has responsibility for the provision of all other health care services to people held there.
	The various clinics and services available at HMP/YOI Parc include the following:
	Induction programme for new admissions Introduction to Healthcare Services
	Education Pathways programme, Sex, Health and Relationships
	Fit For Life (Well Man)
	Immunisations/vaccines including: meningitis, BCG (TB vaccine) and hepatitis
	Genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinics
	Smoking cessation and other health promotion
	Opticians
	Dentist
	Doctor/GP access
	Mental health assessments by resident registered mental nurses
	Chiropodist
	Provision for in-patient care.
	All other services that would be required from local hospitals would be arranged by the resident health care team.
	The Welsh Assembly Government has funded Bridgend Local Health Board to provide a mental health in-reach service (i.e. a secondary health care service) to Parc.
	Health Commission Wales is the responsible commissioner of a Tier Four Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and Forensic Adolescent Consultation Treatment Service. These services can be accessed through the normal way via referral by clinicians in primary and secondary health care.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the highest 10 payments made by his Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Maria Eagle: The highest 10 payments made by the Department all related to the Prison Service and are listed in the following table for 2007-08.
	
		
			  Amount of damages( 1)  Contested or uncontested( 2)  Nature of incident 
			 760,000 Court award Accident related injury 
			 520,000 Court award Assault 
			 220,000 Settled before hearing Assault 
			 200,000 Court award Psychiatric injury 
			 160,000 Settled before hearing Industrial injury 
			 150,000 Settled before hearing Accident related injury 
			 150,000 Settled before hearing Psychiatric injury 
			 150,000 Settled before hearing Medical negligence 
			 130,000 Settled before hearing Fatality 
			 130,000 Settled before hearing Psychiatric injury 
			 (1 )In order to prevent any claimant being identified the damages have been rounded to the nearest 10,000. (2 )All claims are defended until such time as the evidence indicates otherwise.

Pleural Plaques

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his Department's consultation paper CP 1408 on pleural plaques, which Government department will have responsibility for any disbursement of payments from the public purse in relation to each option set out in CP 14/08; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The consultation paper considers the issues that arise in relation to changing the law of negligence and invites views on whether this would or would not be appropriate. It also seeks views on the merits of offering no fault financial support to people diagnosed with pleural plaques, and on two possible ways of doing this. Decisions on the appropriate way forward, including any issues in relation to funding, will be taken in the light of consultation.

Pleural Plaques

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to his Department's consultation paper CP14/08, on pleural plaques, what estimate he has made of the potential liability falling on the public purse under policy options  (a) 4 and  (b) 5; and what estimate he has made of the proportion of the overall cost under each option proposed that might fall on the public purse.

Bridget Prentice: The consultation paper discusses the possible approaches in relation to the funding of any no fault scheme which might be introduced under policy option 4 or 5. Decisions on the appropriate way forward will be taken in the light of consultation.
	The initial impact assessment accompanying the consultation paper estimates the potential cost of option 4 to be between 52 million and 196 million (excluding set-up costs), and of option 5 to be between 780 million and 4.8 billion (excluding set-up costs).

Police Custody

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners  (a) convicted of drugs offences,  (b) assessed as requiring drug treatment and  (c) undergoing drug treatment have been housed in police cells under Operation Safeguard in each of the last five years for which figures are available, broken down by number of nights housed in a police cell.

Jack Straw: The information requested is not held centrally.
	Prisoners are subject to a risk assessment prior to being held under Operation Safeguard. Past or present drug misuse or treatment, or the need for treatment, do not necessarily render a prisoner unsuitable to be held in police cells overnight.

Prison Sentences

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders  (a) began and  (b) were released from an indeterminate sentence for public protection in the last month.

David Hanson: During May 2008 120 prisoners were received into prison establishments in England and Wales having been sentenced to an Indeterminate Sentence for Public Protection; over the same period three IPP prisoners were released.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoner Escorts

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions court authorities have not produced a defendant in court in due time in the last period for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: The production of defendants from custody to courts in England and Wales is the responsibility of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and is contracted out to private escort companies. Contractors produced 556,508 prisoners in court in 2007-08, of which 626 were reported as resulting in a delay to court proceedings.
	The contractors have a target of delivering 85 per cent. of prisoners by the due time; that being, generally 9.30 am for prisoners due to appear before midday and 11:30 am for prisoners due to appear after midday. Nationally, contractors met that target throughout 2007-08. The number of cases involving remand defendants not produced from custody for their trial hearing was 51 in the Crown court and 846 in the magistrates courts.
	Total figures for the number of criminal cases where one or more defendants failed to attend on the first day of their trial and which resulted in the trial being adjourned to another date are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  April 2007 to March 2008 
			   Crown court  Magistrates courts 
			 Total trials listed 36,318 190,155 
			 Total ineffective trials 4,329 34,841 
			 Total cases where defendant(s) failed to attend trial hearing 1,138 7,282

Prisoners Release

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners do not have their case recorded on the NOMS pre-release section database.

David Hanson: The database referred to which the hon. and learned Member refers is designed to record information on those cases in which officials in the Public Protection Unit in the National Offender Management Service have a direct involvement. Therefore, it holds data on prisoners serving a life sentence or an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection. It also holds data on determinate sentence prisoners who have been recalled to custody following release on licence or who have had an oral hearing to consider their parole application. It does not hold information on other determinate sentence prisoners.

Prisoners: Mentally Ill

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) adult and  (b) juvenile prisoners have been diagnosed with dangerous and severe personality disorder.

Maria Eagle: Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) is not a clinically defined condition but describes individuals who have been assessed as posing a high risk of further sexual or violent offending, linked to the presence of severe personality disorder.
	Information provided by DSPD units indicates that:
	between July 2004 and June 2008 a total of 281 men and nine women were found on assessment to meet the DSPD criteria and admitted for treatment in a high secure setting.
	between January 2006 and December 2007 a total of 181 men were found on assessment to meet criteria and accepted for treatment either in medium secure DSPD units or under supervision in the community.
	DSPD services are only available for adults.

Prisons

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which companies or employers are members of the corporate alliance working with prisons.

David Hanson: Employers who support the Reducing Re-offending Corporate Alliance have agreed to employ offenders or are contributing to improving offenders' skills or employability. In signing up to the Alliance they have agreed that their experiences can be used to promote the case for employing offenders with other employers.
	Employers that have signed up to the Reducing Re-offending Corporate Alliance are:
	Aramark, Action Housing and Support Ltd., Aire Valley, Alfa Electric, Angel-Fish Cleaning Company, A-One, Barclays, Barhale, British Institute of Cleaning Science, Blaydon RFC, Blue Sky, Boots, Boss Training, Bovis Lend Lease, Breeze Cafe and Deli, Business in the Community, Cadbury Schweppes, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS, Camden Garden Centre, Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development, Cisco Systems, Clayport Library, Club 4 Kids, Coachers, Coleman Construction, Compass, Construction Leeds, Cooplands, Costco Wholesale, CRI, CST Associates, Dead Earnest Theatre, DHL, Doncaster and Rotherham District Motor Trades, East View Housing, Ecovert FM, Eden Project, Enterprise, Fifteen Foundation, Foundation Training Company, Fyffes Group, Garforth Building Supplies, G Sport Gym, GM Procure, Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, Hastings Council, Horizon Recruitment, Horton Housing Association, Hughes Brothers, Immedia Productions, Interserve FM, John Laing Training, JS Humidifers, Jury Inns, Leeds city council, Kalyx, KPMG, Leicester Cares, Levi Solicitors, LUSH, Marshall Tufflex, Martha Trust, McGinley Recruitment Services, Mersey Mail, MLS Ltd., Nacro, Oxfam (County Durham), Pecan, Pestalozzi International Village, Ramada Jarvis, Recruitment and Employment Confederation, Reed Elsevier, Safer London Foundation, Sainsburys, Second Byte IT, Serco, Sheffield Cathedral, Shell UK, Southampton council, South Tyneside Library, Sova, TA Horn, Tesco, Tomorrow's People, Turning Point, UBS Investment Bank, UK Railways Ltd., VT Shipbuilding Ltd., Wakefield Welfare Association, Wates, Wessex Water, Wiltan Ltd., Working Links, WYTS, YMCA England.

Prisons: Electronic Surveillance

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2008,  Official Report, column 104W, on prisons: electronic surveillance, how many covert surveillance operations relating to hon. Members were authorised by the Home Secretary in 1999; what the Government's policy was in 1999 on the surveillance of hon. Members meeting their constituents in prison; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: It is our policy to neither confirm nor deny covert surveillance operations in prisons. I refer the hon. Member to the then Prime Minister Tony Blair's written answer to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker) on 4 December 1997,  Official Report, column 321W, which made it clear that the Wilson doctrine applied to telephone interception and to the use of electronic surveillance by any of the three security and intelligence agencies. Visits by MPs to prisoners in prisons were not excluded from this policy.

Prisons: Food

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost per day of the food allowance for prisoners in  (a) prison cells and  (b) police station cells.

Jack Straw: The cost of providing food in prisons is approximately 2 per prisoner per day. For prisoners held in police cells under Operation Safeguard, the cost, agreed between NOMS and ACPO, is up to a ceiling of 12. This may be exceeded under exceptional circumstances.
	The difference arises because the provision of food in prison can be planned with much greater certainty and prison establishments are able to make use of bulk purchasing.

Prisons: Homicide

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many homicides have occurred in  (a) prisons and  (b) young offender institutions in England and Wales in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The answer is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Homicides( 1)  in prisons and YOIs 
			   1997  1998  2000  2003  2004  2005  2007 
			  (a) Prison
			 HMP Birmingham   11 
			 HMP Cardiff   1 
			 HMP Full Sutton  1  
			 HMP Garth  1  
			 HMP Leeds 11   
			 HMP Leicester 1   
			 HMP Lewes   1 
			 HMP Liverpool  1  
			 HMP Manchester1
			 HMP Risley  1  
			 HMP Rye Hill  1  
			 HMP Wayland  1  
			 HMP Woodhill 1   
			 
			  (b) YOI
			 HMYOI Feltham   1 
			 HMYOI Stoke Heath  1  
			 (1) This includes apparent and suspected homicides where no conviction has been obtained and/or inquest verdicts have not yet been returned. This table does not include uncategorised deaths which may subsequently be classified as homicides by NOMS.

Prisons: Medical Equipment

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) prisons and  (b) young offender institutions are equipped with readily accessible and operational defibrillators; and what measures are in place to train staff in (i) defibrillator use and (ii) cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

David Hanson: There are no central records of defibrillators held in prisons and young offender institutions. It is the responsibility of the governing governor or director of each prison or young offender institution to determine the requirements for first aid training and training in defibrillator use for their establishment by conducting a risk assessment and training needs analysis in line with Prison Service general training requirements and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) legislation.

Prisons: Voluntary Organisations

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons employ a voluntary sector coordinator.

Maria Eagle: Prison Service Order 4190 Strategy for working with the Voluntary and Community Sector (2002) includes a mandatory action for governors, area managers and head of groups to give responsibility to a member of their senior management team for oversight of voluntary and community groups as part of their job description. Although some prisons have a dedicated voluntary sector co-ordinator, this role is usually undertaken part-time by the head of reducing re-offending, head of learning and skills, the diversity manager, a member of chaplaincy or another member of staff depending on the establishment.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what progress has been made towards the UK withdrawing its reservation to article 36(c) of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

David Hanson: The United Kingdom (UK) does not have a reservation against Article 36 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. I assume the hon. Gentleman's question refers to the UK's reservation against Article 37(c) of the Convention.
	My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families (Beverley Hughes) and I are considering the findings of an official level review into whether or not the reservation remains relevant to the secure estate for children and young .people in England and Wales. The reservation against Article 37(c) applies to the United Kingdom as a whole and so we are considering the overall position with the Scottish Executive and Northern Ireland Office.

Volunteer Referral Order Panel

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reason members of the Volunteer Referral Order panel are disqualified from serving in that capacity for more than six years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The tenure of volunteer youth offender panel members is currently limited to a maximum period of six years; an initial three year period which can then be extended to a maximum of six. These terms are set out in Referral Orders and Youth Offender PanelsGuidance for courts, Youth Offending Teams and Youth Offender Panels issued jointly by the Home Office, Lord Chancellor's Department and the Youth Justice Board in February 2002. This guidance is currently being reviewed and the matter of tenure for volunteer youth offender panel members is being considered as part of this review. In the interim volunteer panel members may have their service extended by a further year. The review is expected to be completed this autumn.

Young Offender Institutions: Crimes of Violence

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many violent incidents involving knives and other offensive weapons occurred in  (a) young offender institutions and  (b) prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what proportion of such incidents involved prisoner (i) on prisoner and (ii) on staff violence in each such year;
	(2)  how many  (a) knives and  (b) other offensive weapons have been found in (i) young offender institutions and (ii) prisons in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

Jack Straw: The Prison Service Incident Reporting System (IRS) processes high volumes of data which are constantly being updated. The data provide a good indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. In addition information recorded as assault incidents may involve one or many prisoners as some assault incidents may involve more than one assailant or more than one victim. In a proportion of incidents only the victim is known.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) defines violence in prisons as 'any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted. This includes an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health. The resulting harm may be physical, emotional or psychological'. This definition takes into account the impact of fear on emotional health and well-being.
	The numbers on IRS given in the tables refer to all incidents recorded as assaults. These may also include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact events and allegations.
	Assault information is recorded at establishment level in four categories: Prisoner on prisoner, prisoner on officer, other (including miscellaneous assault information) and prisoner on other. The recorded incidents of prisoner on officer are not completely exclusive to officers; establishment recording sometimes includes in this category assaults on other prison staff. The category 'prisoner on other' contains few entries and these may also include prison staff as well as visitors, legal visitors etc. However, for the purpose of this response the categories 'prisoner on officer' and 'prisoner on other' are used to answer the question regarding prisoner on staff assaults.
	In the majority of assault incidents there is no recorded use of weapon. The figures in relation to staff are very small so that proportions are not meaningful.
	Figures are available for the last eight years. The 2007 figures do not include the three prisons (Albany, Camphill and Parkhurst) where the incident recording has transferred to the NOMIS system which is not currently accessed from Prison Service headquarters.
	There is no definition for offensive weapon therefore all weapon types recorded have been shown.
	Ministers, NOMS and the Prison Officers Association are collectively committed to ensuring that violence in prisons is not tolerated in any form.
	Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy. This policy has recently been revised and from mid-2007 applied to both the public sector and contracted estate. The strategy requires each prison to undertake regular analysis of the problem areas, consider solutions and provide an action plan to improve personal safety and reduce violence. All closed establishments are required to undertake a cell-sharing risk assessment to inform cell allocation. A good practice toolkit supports the violence reduction strategy and guides establishments to develop practical solutions, including environmental and physical measures as well as alternative ways of managing behaviour.
	As set out in the NOMS National Security Framework (NSF), establishments deploy a comprehensive range of robust searching techniques and security measures to detect and uncover weapons at the point of entry or concealed in the establishment. Such measures include the rub down and full searching of prisoners, staff and visitors, as appropriate; the use of technical devices, such as metal detectors; the deployment of searching dogs and the routine and intelligence-led searching of living accommodation and communal areas.
	While figures indicate that the numbers of assaults has risen in recent years, it is not possible to quantify how much of this is due to the rise in prison population, increased reporting, better data processing, or an actual increase in incidents. The increase during the earlier part of the period is most likely to do with changes in the reporting system (increase in available fields/ranges of incident capture). Additionally, a violence reduction strategydating from 2004 and revised in 2007has further encouraged better recording. Rises in assaults may also be linked to imported violence (more prisoners held for violent offences (in 1996 prisoners held for offences of violence against the person accounted for 18 per cent. of first receptions into immediate custody, by 2005 this had risen to 23 per cent.)).
	The reported numbers are useful for internal management purposes, but they should not be considered as absolute. Data on assaults are complex. In particular, the level of detail requested here means that the totals in this response will not necessarily match figures provided in previous NOMS responses.
	
		
			  (a) Incidents involving weapons in young offender institutions 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  Prisoner on prisoner 
			 Prison population(1) 65,194 66,403 71,218 73,657 74,488 76,190 77,982 80,689 
			 Knife/Blade 11 12 10 7 11 11 20 27 
			 Other sharp instrument 3 4 0 3 2 6 8 8 
			 Blunt instrument 40 40 34 50 52 55 47 57 
			 Ligature 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 
			 Hot liquid 10 4 5 2 13 15 3 6 
			 Spitting 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 
			 Food 3 2 2 2 2 4 6 6 
			 Thrown furniture 5 4 9 10 5 6 8 6 
			 Thrown equipment 1 0 1 0 7 2 4 5 
			 Other 85 101 115 128 135 144 140 173 
			 Total 159 167 177 202 228 245 237 288 
			  
			  (ii) Prisoner on staff 
			 Chemical incapacitant 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Knife/Blade 4 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 
			 Other sharp instrument 0 2 2 0 0 4 0 1 
			 Blunt instrument 9 5 2 4 9 15 7 6 
			 Hot liquid 5 1 1 2 2 5 3 5 
			 Excreta/Urine 5 1 0 1 2 4 1 2 
			 Spitting 1 2 0 0 3 2 2 0 
			 Food 8 5 4 5 8 11 5 6 
			 Thrown furniture 2 2 2 6 4 5 4 2 
			 Thrown equipment 2 2 1 8 1 6 4 2 
			 Other 31 23 38 40 51 54 71 71 
			 Total 67 43 50 66 81 107 97 98 
			  Note:  Two young offender institutions in England and Wales re-rolled to prisons in this period. Their figures are included in table (b). 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Incidents involving weapons in prisons in England and Wales 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  (i) Prisoner on prisoner 
			 Prison population(1) 65,194 66,403 71,218 73,657 74,488 76,190 77,982 80,689 
			 Firearm 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Chemical incapacitant 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Knife/Blade 112 99 105 130 132 144 183 208 
			 Other sharp instrument 20 21 26 28 30 27 40 46 
			 Blunt instrument 128 119 141 169 145 141 168 157 
			 Ligature 1 6 3 1 2 3 2 2 
			 Hot liquid 29 29 29 30 17 21 24 43 
			 Excreta/Urine 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 
			 Spitting 0 3 4 5 3 2 2 4 
			 Food 6 6 10 10 6 8 6 4 
			 Thrown furniture 14 13 8 16 15 13 14 11 
			 Thrown equipment 4 6 5 10 7 9 12 11 
			 Total 315 302 331 399 357 371 451 491 
			  
			  Prisoner on staff 
			 Chemical incapacitant 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
			 Knife/Blade 5 11 6 17 19 11 12 15 
			 Other sharp instrument 2 4 4 2 6 3 2 2 
			 Blunt instrument 20 21 17 19 17 16 21 23 
			 Ligature 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Hot liquid 10 13 7 13 10 10 14 12 
			 Excreta/Urine 9 9 10 22 18 23 24 21 
			 Spitting 21 10 11 26 10 13 18 14 
			 Food 25 24 16 30 16 16 25 22 
			 Thrown furniture 8 13 6 13 13 13 15 7 
			 Thrown equipment 7 7 6 12 10 11 10 12 
			 Other 117 134 123 187 153 160 168 148 
			 Total 224 246 207 342 272 276 310 277 
		
	
	The following table demonstrates that, when taking into account the prison population for each year, there has been a relatively low increase in the proportion of assault incidents involving bladed instruments since 2000:
	
		
			  (c)  Proportion of assault incidents involving use of a knife/bladed instrument or other sharp instrument 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Assault incidents 9,423 10,695 11,514 11,833 12,555 14,405 15,047 15,224 
			 Weapon incidents (Knives/blades/sharps) 157 153 153 187 201 206 265 310 
			 Weapon 
			 Weapon use per 50 assaults 0.8 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7 0.9 1.0 
			 Prison population(1) 65,194 66,403 71,218 73,657 74,488 76,190 77,982 80,689 
			 (1) MOJ statistics. 
		
	
	The information requested in relation to the number of knives and offensive weapons found in prisons and young offender institutions is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Young Offender Institutions: Emergencies

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are in place in  (a) young offender institutions and  (b) prisons in England and Wales to ensure that staff invoke appropriate response procedures in the event of (i) fire, (ii) death and (ii) other emergencies; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that prison staff are trained in such procedures.

David Hanson: HM Prison Service provides instructions to ensure that governing governors and directors of both prisons and young offender institutions have contingency plans in place in the event of fire, death and other emergencies.
	Public and private sector prison staff receive the appropriate training to ensure they have required skills and knowledge to deal with incidents of fire, death and other emergencies in prisons. It is the responsibility of individual prisons to assess the training needs of their staff to ensure these incidents are managed effectively.

Young Offender Institutions: Offensive Weapons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what protocols are invoked upon the discovery of a knife or other offensive weapon in prisons and young offender institutions in England and Wales.

Jack Straw: Any offensive weapons found within prisons and young offender institutions will be seized and reported to the prison security department where the incident is dealt with according to the circumstances involved. The discovery of firearms or explosives must be reported to the police immediately. The discovery of offensive weapons such as knives, kitchen or workshop implements or improvised weapons should be reported to the police if there is evidence to suggest that the weapon is intended for use in a criminal offence such as a serious assault.
	Possession of an offensive weapon is a disciplinary offence and prisoners will face an internal adjudication if the matter is not dealt with through the courts. The conveying of an offensive weapon into or out of a prison or passing of such an article to a prisoner is a criminal offence and will be dealt with accordingly.
	Policy and guidance on the handling of weapons found within prisons is contained within the National Offender Management National Security Framework, which sets outs procedures for the preservation and continuity of evidence in cases where weapons are found.

Young Offender Institutions: Speech Therapy

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research his Department has commissioned on the effects of providing speech and language therapy in young offender institutions and secure training centres in the last three years.

Maria Eagle: There has been no research commissioned specifically on the effects of providing speech and language therapy in young offender institutions and secure training centres in the last three years.
	Professor Karen Bryan's research in this area, published in 2004, funded by the Helen Hamlyn Trust and supported by HM Prison Service, has been used to inform the new reception screen developed by the Youth Justice Board. All young offenders receive health screening on reception into prison, and in addition, a screen for their educational needs.
	A strategy looking at the health and social care needs of children across the criminal justice system is currently in development and due for publication in 2008. This is a joint initiative between the Department of Health, Department of Children, Schools and Families, Ministry of Justice and the Youth Justice Board, and is intended as an integrated and holistic response to the health and social care needs of these children.

Young Offenders

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of juvenile offenders were attending school at the time of their conviction in 2007.

David Hanson: Data relating to the educational status of young offenders upon conviction are not recorded centrally. However, the Youth Justice Board (YJB) has a performance indicator to ensure that 90 per cent. of all young people supervised by youth offending teams are in suitable full time education, training or employment at the end of their order. These data are published in the YJB annual statistics and are available on their website:
	www.yjb.gov.uk

Young Offenders

David Heath: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether responses to the Youth Justice Board's consultation exercise on the scaled approach will be published in full;
	(2)  when the responses to the Youth Justice Board's consultation exercise on the scaled approach will be published;
	(3)  when he will publish the evaluation report of the Youth Justice Board's scaled approach pilot;
	(4)  what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the evaluation of the piloting of the Youth Justice Board's scaled approach.

David Hanson: The Youth Justice Board is completing compilation of the responses to the consultation exercise on the scaled approach and revision of the Scaled Approach framework based on the responses. These will be published together in the autumn.
	The evaluation of the scaled approach pilot will also be published. Evidence and recommendations from an initial draft of the evaluation were used to inform the development of the scaled approach framework. The report is being finalised for publication which includes an academic peer review and review by Ministry of Justice Analytical Services. This should be completed over the summer to allow publication in the autumn.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Boilers: Repairs and Maintenance

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government have taken to protect consumers from excessive charges for replacement boilers.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 15 July 2008
	The Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 requires a trader who agrees to provide a serviceincluding the provision of a replacement boilerto carry out that service with reasonable care and skill, for a reasonable charge (unless the price is fixed by contract) and within a reasonable time (unless the time is fixed by contract). It also requires that any goods and materials supplied are of satisfactory quality. If the trader fails to comply with these requirements the law treats the matter as breach of contract and a consumer could, if necessary, pursue a claim for redress through the civil courts.

Business: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his definition of a rural business is; and what estimate he has made of the number of rural businesses in England.

Patrick McFadden: There is no standard industrial classification for a rural business but in 2004 Government agreed to define a rural business in England as a business registered at an address in an area defined as rural by the 2004 definition of rural. This defines settlements with populations of 10,000 or more as urban, and those with less than a 10,000 population as rural.
	Analysis of the ONS Inter Departmental Business Register by Defra shows there were 476,490 businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in rural areas in England in 2005. This represents 28 per cent. of the total number of VAT and PAYE businesses registered in England, which was 1,712,745 in 2005.

Business: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has to reduce the level of administrative burdens on rural businesses.

Patrick McFadden: BERR's plans to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on businesses, including rural businesses, are set out in our Better Regulation Simplification Plan.

Carbon Emissions: Standards

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the UK's capacity to meet its carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets with the current level of technical expertise available to industry and the public sector; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government remains committed to meeting its CO2 emissions reduction targets, and is confident that the correct strategies and mechanisms are in place to achieve this, including the UK Climate Change Programme, tighter building regulations and the EU emissions trading scheme.

Companies: Fraud

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  to which authority Companies House refers for prosecution complaints relating to false registration of a registered address;
	(2)  which authority receives complaints from property owners against companies which falsely register their office address as the property owner's address;
	(3)  how many  (a) people and  (b) companies were prosecuted for false registration of a registered office pursuant to sections 12 and 363 of the Companies Act 1985 in each of the last 12 years; and what penalties were imposed.

Gareth Thomas: Under the Companies Act 1985, there is no offence directly related to a company providing false information relating to the address of its registered office. Nevertheless, over the last 12 months, Companies House received 49 complaints relating to the address of the registered office. These were mostly from occupiers of addresses that are the registered offices of companies with which they have no links. In these circumstances, it may be possible for the occupier to bring court proceedings against the company.
	The Companies Act 2006 makes it an offence for a person knowingly or recklessly to deliver a document to the registrar or to make a statement to him that is misleading, false or deceptive in a material particular. This provision will come into force on 1 October 2009. This offence might be committed if a company notified without permission another's address as the address of the company's registered office.

Departmental Computers

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of  (a) the number of computer devices left on overnight in his Department when not in use and  (b) the cost per year of leaving computer devices on overnight when not in use in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department has implemented software to automatically turn off all PCs, that may have been left on, at an agreed time overnight. As a result, no energy is consumed overnight by IT desktop devices.

Departmental Sick Leave

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many and what percentage of staff in his Department and its predecessor have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days in each of the last three years.

Gareth Thomas: BERR's records, and its predecessor, the Department for Trade and Industry, show:
	
		
			   BERR HQ including UKTI staff who have had more than two periods of sickness of less than five days 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 2007-08 385 12 
			 2006-07 478 12.5 
			 2005-06 480 11

Energy: Conservation

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimates his Department has made of the amount of energy consumed by circulator pumps in  (a) domestic and  (b) non-domestic properties in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Joan Ruddock: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government's Market Transformation Programme estimates that the energy consumed by circulator pumps was about 1.7 TWh for domestic properties and about 3.4 TWh for non-domestic properties in the UK in 2006.

Environment Protection: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much additional funding the Government have committed to  (a) the Clean Technology Fund and  (b) the Strategic Climate Fund following the Heads of Government agreement on energy and climate change at the G8 summit.

Gillian Merron: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK intends to make available an 800 million contribution to the Strategic Climate Fund announced at the Hokkaido G8 summit, a proportion of which will be allocated to the Clean Technology Fund. Part of the UK's contribution will also be allocated to the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience.
	The exact allocations to these (and other programmes funded through the Strategic Climate Fund) have yet to be determined since some aspects of the sectoral programmes are still under design. Roughly two thirds of the 800 million will be allocated to climate change mitigation, and one third to climate change adaptation.
	The joint DEFRA/DFID Environmental Transformation Fund-International Window (ETF-IW) will finance the UK's contribution. The ETF-IW is in addition to current climate and ODA spending for both DFID and DEFRA.

EU Trade: Palestinians

Tom Levitt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value has been of imports of produce into  (a) the UK and  (b) the EU under the interim EU-Palestinian Authority Association Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Association Agreement between the European Community and the Palestinian Authority was signed in February 1997. Its trade provisions came into force on an interim basis on 1 July 1997.
	For the period July 1997 to December 2007, EUROSTAT's Comext trade statistics database recorded UK and EU imports of goods from the Occupied Palestinian Territories worth about 7.8 million and 72.9 million, i.e. about 5.3 million and 48.7 million respectively.

Fireworks

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps his Department plans to take to encourage safe and responsible celebrations on and around Guy Fawkes Night in 2008.

Gareth Thomas: BERR is responsible for fireworks legislation, as well as the promotion of the safe and responsible use of fireworks. Every year the Department carries out a publicity campaign to ensure the UK population has adequate information about firework safety, with the objective of reducing the number of accidents relating to fireworks.
	We currently produce a range of literature, which is available online and updated annually, including: copies of the fireworks safety code for adults and children; schools packs; posters and leaflets for retailers; and a campaign toolkit for local Trading Standards teams.
	The BERR fireworks safety website was restructured in 2006 and now forms the focal point of our activity. All communications will carry the website address
	www.berr.gov.uk/fireworks.
	This year's campaign will also involve close working with other fireworks safety interest groups and the media to promote the important safety message on and around Guy Fawkes day, as well as other festivals involving the use of fireworks.

Fish

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much fish was procured by his Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Gareth Thomas: The Department's contracted catering service provider does not have sufficiently detailed information available to answer this question fully and to produce it would involve disproportionate cost.
	Currently, orders are placed for between 100-140 portions of fish per day, with the main species being haddock, salmon, hake, plaice, skate, mackerel and catfish.
	All fish is sourced from sustainable sources in line with Marine Stewardship Council guidelines.

Independent Food Stores

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his latest estimate is of the change in the number of independent food stores in the last 12 months; and what steps he plans to take to reduce the regulatory burden on such businesses.

Patrick McFadden: The Competition Commission's Final Report on its Investigation of the Groceries Market, published on 30 April 2008, estimated that the number of convenience stores operated by small businesses stayed approximately at the same level (34,554 in 2006 and 34,505 in 2007). The report also estimated that the number of specialist grocery stores, which includes greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers and bakeries fell from 18,985 in 2006 to 18,465 in 2007.
	As part of the Enterprise Strategy published this year, the Government will consult on the introduction of a new system of regulatory budgets for Departments. These would be budgets setting out the limit of regulation that can be introduced within a given period. Adopting such a forward looking limit on the costs of regulation would be a world first, and further support Britain as one of the best places in the world to do business.
	The Enterprise Strategy also announced the Government's intention to build on our 'think small first' policy for small business by investigating where small businesses could be exempted from new regulation. When regulation is necessary, the Government will fully explore different approaches to regulating small businesses to ensure the regulation is proportionate and appropriate to the context of small business.

Foreign Investment in UK

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate he has made of the number of jobs  (a) safeguarded and  (b) created by inward investment into the UK in 2007-08.

Gareth Thomas: On 2 July UK Trade and Investment announced that in 2007-08 it recorded 1,573 decisions to invest in the UK, and 45,051 new jobs plus 58,488 safeguarded jobs associated with these investments.

Post Offices: Bedfordshire

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) income,  (b) expenditure and  (c) profitability of the (i) Linslade, (ii) Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard, (iii) Eaton Bray, (iv) High Street South, Dunstable and (v) Luton Road, Dunstable post offices was in each of the last three years.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 15 July 2008
	This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consideration he has given to the provisions of section 62 of the Environment Act 1995 in respect of the withdrawal of postal services from settlements in national parks; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 3 July 2008
	In developing such proposals under its Network Change programme, Post Office Ltd. is required to comply with the access criteria set by Government, to take account of geographical factors, including distance to alternative outlets, and to consider availability of public transport, local demographics and the impact on local economies.
	I understand that Post Office Ltd. has specifically consulted the Dartmoor National Park Authority in respect of its post office closure and new outreach proposals in its Devon area plan. The authority's response, together with all other responses received in response to the local public consultation, will be carefully considered in reaching final decisions.

Post Offices: Closures

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many of the 2,500 post offices proposed for closure in May 2007 have been allowed to continue in operation.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 15 July 2008
	This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Disclosure of Information

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what sanctions there are in postmasters' contracts with Post Office Limited for breaking confidentiality agreements in relation to  (a) the network change programme and  (b) any other matter.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 14 July 2008
	This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Postal Services: Fraud

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many cases of fraudulently redirected mail the Royal Mail discovered in each of the last three years for which figures are available; what steps Royal Mail is taking to counter this practice; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 14 July 2008
	This is an operational matter for which Royal Mail has direct responsibility. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.
	A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Regional Development Agencies: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform which board members of each regional development agency have responsibility for rural affairs.

Patrick McFadden: Regional Development Agency Board members with responsibility for rural affairs are as follows:
	Advantage West MidlandsMichael Oakes
	East of England Regional Development AgencyLord Edward Iveagh
	East Midlands Development AgencyCllr Geoffrey Stevens
	Northwest Regional Development AgencyPeter Allan
	ONE NorthEastIan Brown
	South East of England Development AgencyPoul Christensen
	South West Regional Development AgencyHarry Studholme
	Yorkshire ForwardLord Christopher Haskins.

Small Businesses: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  how many business start-ups took place in Bexley in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many business registrations for value added tax there have been in  (a) Bexley and  (b) London in each year since 2000.

Patrick McFadden: VAT registration data provide the only readily available indicator of the level of business start-up activity.
	The number of new VAT registrations in Bexley and London are shown in the following table for 2000 to 2006. Data for VAT registrations and de-registrations in 2007 will be available autumn 2008.
	
		
			  Number of new VAT registrations and VAT registered businesses 
			   2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  VAT registrations 
			 Bexley 585 620 545 580 580 535 560  
			 London 36,330 33,400 32,955 35,750 35,320 34,875 34,825  
			  
			 Stock of VAT registered businesses 
			 Bexley 4,790 4,870 4,995 5,045 5,140 5,225 5,280 5,385 
			 London 270,875 277,595 281,225 282,920 289,130 294,815 301,975 309,225 
		
	
	Although the number of new VAT registrations in each area has fluctuated between 2000 and 2006 the total number of VAT registered businesses has increased in both Bexley and London over the period. The stock of VAT registered businesses in Bexley district has increased by 595 (12 per cent.) between the start of 2000 and the start of 2007 and in the London region there has been an increase of 38,350 (14 per cent.) over the period.
	VAT registrations do not capture all business activity. Businesses are unlikely to be registered if they fall below the compulsory VAT threshold, which was 60,000 at the start of 2006. Only 1.9 million out of 4.5 million UK enterprises (43 per cent.) were registered for VAT at the start of 2006.

Supermarkets

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will appoint an independent ombudsman and draw up a code of practice to regulate trade between supermarkets and local suppliers.

Gareth Thomas: In its report into the Supply of Groceries in the UK, published on 30 April, the Competition Commission (CC) identified that excessive risks and unexpected costs were being transferred from grocery retailers to suppliers. To address this concern, the CC is extending the supermarkets code of practice (SCOP) to include a larger number of retailers and prohibit some practices that take place. The CC is also seeking undertakings from the grocery retailers covered by the new groceries supply code of practice (GSCOP) to establish an ombudsman to monitor and enforce compliance with the GSCOP. If the CC is unsuccessful in establishing the ombudsman within a reasonable period of time, the CC will ask BERR to take the necessary steps to set up an ombudsman. BERR would then carry out a full consultation.

Trade Unions: Finance

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much has been spent on the Trade Union Modernisation Fund in each year since its establishment.

Patrick McFadden: The costs accrued are as follows:
	
		
			
			 2006-07 1,505,964 
			 2007-08 1,674,000 
			 2008-09 18,918 
			 (1) Year to date

Utilities: Billing

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his policy is on compulsory payment of bills by direct debit; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: In general, companies offering goods and services are free to use whatever contractual terms and conditions they consider reasonable, including those involving methods of payment. If prospective customers are unhappy with these contractual terms and conditions they can attempt to renegotiate the terms in question or find an alternative provider.
	Direct debit is often the most cost-efficient payment method for companies because, among other things, it guarantees payment and reduces invoicing costs. Companies often offer a discount, therefore, on their standard charges for those paying by direct debit.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of GCSE results at grade A* to C were achieved by schools that have had  (a) full and  (b) partial refurbishment under the Building Schools for the Future programme in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: There are currently 13 schools which have completed their full or partial refurbishment through the Building Schools for the Future programme and so the contribution made by these schools to the number of A*-C grades at GCSE is very small. Following is a table of the percentage of pupils achieving five or more A*-C GCSE grades (or equivalent) in each school.
	
		
			  New build schools 
			  Name  Local authority  Percentage of pupils GCSE achieving 5 A*-C grades (or equivalent) 
			2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Solihull Centre for Inclusive Learning (Merston and Forest Oak Special Schools) Solihull (1) 0 0 0 0 
			 Bamburgh School South Tyneside and Gateshead 14 5 22 8 14 
			 Sixth Form Centre Haringey (2) (2) (2) (2) (2) 
			 Brunel Academy(3) Bristol 31 23 25 23 n/a 
			 Sandon High School Stoke 47 49 42 49 42 
			 The Michael Tippett School Lambeth (1) (1) 0 0 0 
			 Bristol Metropolitan College(4) Bristol 31 31 31 28 43 
			 All Saints Newcastle 13 23 40 32 48 
			 The Chaucer Business and Enterprise College Sheffield 25 24 27 20 39 
			 Oxclose Sunderland 71 66 69 62 66 
			 The Elmgreen School Lambeth (5) (5) (5) (5) (5) 
			 Birches Head Stoke 33 32 36 49 45 
			 The Ifield School Kent 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) No pupils entered (2) Not available. Not in KS4 tables (3) Previously known as Speedwell Technology College (4) Previously known as Whitefields Fishponds (5) Not available. Opened in September 2007  Note: Figures relate to 15-year-olds (age at start of academic year, i.e. 31 August)

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many Building Schools for the Future projects are planned to take place in schools which had fewer than 30 per cent. of their pupils achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and mathematics in 2007; and how much funding is due to be allocated to such schools for the programme;
	(2)  how many Building Schools for the Future projects are due to take place in schools that did not achieve 30 per cent. of their pupils obtaining five A* to C grades at GCSE in 2007; and what the expenditure on those projects will be.

Jim Knight: As explained in my response to the hon. Gentleman's question 217564 on 15 July,  Official Report, column 378W, Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding is provided to local authorities as an 'envelope' to allow allocation of resources to individual schools reflecting the local view on priorities and needs. Details of allocations to BSF local authorities are included in the answer to his question 217532 on 15 July,  Official Report, column 377W.
	15 secondary schools, where in 2007 fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils attained five or more good GCSEs including English and mathematics, are expected to open in new or remodelled BSF buildings this financial year. A further 256 will benefit from funding as part of current Building Schools for the Future projects, either through Local Education Partnerships, the Partnerships for Schools National Framework or as One School Pathfinders. An additional 73 are included in pre-BSF private finance initiative projects, and 29 are being, or have been built under the DCSF Academies programme.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Consultants

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the expenditure which has been incurred by schools and local authorities on consultancy services related to the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Jim Knight: We do not hold details of the expenditure schools and local authorities have made on consultancy services related to the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The Department recommends that a local authority should set aside approximately 3 per cent. of the value of its BSF project for consultancy services to support the authority through the procurement process. In addition BSF funding includes an allowance for professional fees (including architects and other design consultants, as appropriate) of 12.5 per cent. of construction costs for new build projects and 15 per cent. of construction costs for refurbishment projects, It is for local authorities to manage all project costs, including fees.

Children in Care: Clinical Trials

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in care have taken part in drug trials in each of the last 10 years, broken down by pharmaceutical company involved.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not collected centrally.

Children: Disadvantaged

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of  (a) all pupils and  (b) pupils eligible to receive free school meals did not attain any GCSE grades higher than a D in 2007.

Jim Knight: 136,861 pupils did not attain any GCSE grades higher than a D in 2006/07. This was 23.7 per cent. of pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools.
	33,909 pupils eligible to receive free school meals did not attain any GCSE grades higher than a D in 2006/07. This was 44.7 per cent. of eligible pupils at the end of key stage 4 in maintained schools.

Council for Learning Outside the Classroom

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  when the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom will be established;
	(2)  what research has been undertaken since 2004 to monitor the participation of young people in  (a) music and  (b) learning outside the classroom in the natural environment;
	(3)  how much his Department has spent on implementation of  (a) the music and  (b) the learning outside the classroom manifesto in each year since 2004; and what forecast expenditure is for such activity for (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10;
	(4)  how many children have had access to learning outside the classroom in the natural environment in each of the last five years;
	(5)  how many staff in his Department work on the implementation of  (a) the music and  (b) the learning outside the classroom manifesto.

Jim Knight: The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom will be established by March 2009. The Department does not routinely collect information on pupils' access to and participation in learning outside the classroom in the natural environment. In 2006 the Department commissioned Education Outside the Classroom: An Assessment of Activity and Practice in Schools and Local Authorities, which can be found at
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/research
	The Department does not routinely collect information on young people's participation in music. In 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2007 the Department commissioned surveys of local authority music services, which collected data on the prevalence of music tuition. Survey reports are available at www.dcsf.gov.uk/research.
	The Department has 1.5 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working on learning outside the classroom policy and support for the Manifesto partnership's delivery of their agreed Action Plan. There are l.5 FTE staff working on music policy and the delivery of music education. The extent to which that resource is spent on the Music Manifesto is not readily quantifiable. Through the Manifesto for Learning Outside the Classroom partnership, we are encouraging schools, local authorities and visit providers, to sign up to the vision that every young person (0-19) should experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of learning and personal development, whatever their age, ability or circumstances. More than 1,000 have already done so. The Department is supporting the Manifesto partnership to realise this vision through funding of just under 4.5 million between 2006-07 and 2008-09. Funding is not yet allocated for 2009-10.
	The Music Manifesto is a campaign to which over 2,000 signatories from every part of the music sector have signed up with joint aims to improve music education. The Department has funded the campaign since 2003. Since the Music Manifesto's second report Making Every Child's Music Matter in 2006, Government funding has been targeted on programmes arising out of the main recommendations of that report. Other Music Manifesto signatories are also making their responses to some of the report's recommendations, and their response is being led by the independent Music Manifesto Partnership and Advocacy Group. An announcement of 332 million government funding for music education over the next three years was made last November and further details set out in the announcement of 20 June.

Drama: Further Education

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many colleges listed drama as  (a) a specialism,  (b) a second specialism and  (c) a combined specialism in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: Schools specialising in drama will normally be designated as specialist Arts colleges. The Arts specialism covers performing arts, visual arts or media arts, or combinations of the three; we do not keep records of which particular strands individual schools focus on. The number of schools that have been designated with Arts college status in each of the last three years is listed in the following table:
	
		
			   Specialism (a)  Second specialism (b)  Combined specialism (c)  Total 
			 2005/06 60 7 6 63 
			 2006/07 39 5 10 54 
			 2007/08 33 1 7 41 
			 Total 122 13 23 158 
		
	
	In addition, there are two Performing Arts Academies and the Brit Schoolthe only City College for the Technology of the Arts, which is dedicated to education and vocational training for the performing arts and associated technologies.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much he expects his Department to spend on the education maintenance allowance in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The budget allocations for the education maintenance allowance for the comprehensive spending review period are 2008-09 549 million; 2009-10 529 million; 2010-11 529 million.
	Latest expenditure estimates are 2008-09 531 million; 2009-10 544 million; 2010-11 560 million. DCSF officials are working with the Learning and Skills Council to establish whether these latest estimates are a robust and accurate basis for funding.
	Forecasts of expenditure beyond this period are not available.

Education Maintenance Allowance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what assessment he has made of the effects of the education maintenance allowance on  (a) improving retention and  (b) widening participation in education; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The education maintenance allowance (EMA) pilot evaluation evidence showed that:
	 (a) EMA had a positive and significant impact on post-16 retention: there was a 6.1 percentage point increase in participation in full-time education throughout the two-year period beyond compulsory schooling among eligible young people in pilots areas, compared to young people with the same characteristics in control areas without EMA.
	 (b) EMA led to increases in participation nationally by 3.8 percentage points for 16-year-olds and 4.1 percentage points for 17-year-olds. The evaluation showed relatively greater impact for low/middle achievers and lower socio-economic groups. These increases in participation have been sustained since the national roll-out of EMA. More recent analysis has found positive and statistically significant impacts of EMA on attainment as well as participation. These positive impacts have been particularly strong among more disadvantaged groups such as those from the most deprived neighbourhoods.

Education: Assessments

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what comparative assessment he has made of the  (a) reliability and  (b) accuracy of marking of key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests in (i) 2008, (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: Judgments about the quality of marking are a matter for Ofqual. In a published letter to the Secretary of State on 4 July, the chair of Ofqual, Kathleen Tattersall, made it clear that from the evidence available marking quality is at least as good as in previous years and justifies releasing the key stage 2 and key stage 3 test results.

Education: Assessments

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in Halifax did not receive their key stage 2 and 3 results on the expected date in 2008.

Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA) announced on 4 July that there would be a slight delay in releasing the key stage 2 (KS2) and key stage 3 (KS3) test results. The delay will affect all pupils who sat the KS2 and KS3 national curriculum tests, the majority of whom will be in years 6 and 9.

Education: Travelling People

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to improve education provision for gypsy and traveller communities.

Jim Knight: The Department for Children, Schools and Families provides funding to local authorities through the Children's Services Grant to improve provision and outcome for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) pupils and many local authorities use this to maintain a Traveller Education Support Service which works closely with schools on issues relating to GRT pupils.
	The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Achievement Programme, part of our National Primary and Secondary Strategies, was launched in 2006 and aims to improve the quality of provision, improve rates of attendance and standards of behaviour and thus raise attainment for GRT pupils. 47 schools in 12 local authorities are currently involved in this programme and a further 40 schools in 10 new local authorities will join the programme in autumn 2008.
	We have also recently published, in February 2008, The Inclusion of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children and Young People. This document offers practical advice to local authorities, schools, pupils and parents on how to raise ascription and attainment among GRT pupils.

Equality

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the Disability Discrimination (General Qualifications Bodies) (Relevant Qualifications, Reasonable Steps and Physical Features) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 have not been the subject of a disability equality impact assessment.

Jim Knight: We have consulted with the interested disability organisations about laying the draft regulations (dated 19 June 2008) without carrying out an equality impact assessment. A consortium covering Scope, the Royal National Institute for the Blind, Skill, the British Association of the Teachers of the Deaf, the British Dyslexia Association and the National Deaf Children's Society has told us it is reluctantly prepared to accept this approach. This is in order to avoid delays which could disadvantage disabled candidates or those considering whether or not to undertake a course.
	When I took the DDA General Qualifications regulations through the House last summer I made it clear that the practice of exemptions from parts of an assessment, and therefore the resulting enhancements, will continue to be lawful after September 2007. This absolutely remains the Government position.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils in each local authority did not gain five A* to C GCSEs including English, mathematics, science and a foreign language in 2007.

Jim Knight: This information has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many maintained schools offer a Chinese GCSE course;
	(2)  how many pupils in year 11 were not entered for any GCSE examinations excluding equivalents in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many pupils did not sit five GCSE examinations, including English and mathematics but excluding equivalents, in each of the last 10 years.

Jim Knight: This information can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils gained five GCSEs at A*-C including English, mathematics, science, a modern foreign language and either history or geography in 2007.

Jim Knight: In 2007, 109,630 pupils (16.9 per cent.) at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved 5+ A*-C at GCSE and equivalent including English, mathematics, science, a modern foreign language and either history or geography GCSEs.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many maintained mainstream schools entered one or more pupils for GCSE examinations in  (a) mathematics,  (b) English,  (c) biology,  (d) chemistry,  (e) physics,  (f) history,  (g) geography,  (h) French,  (i) German and  (j) Chinese in 2008.

Jim Knight: Information about GCSE examinations in 2008 will not be available until October.

General Certificate of Secondary Education

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many eligible pupils did not gain 
	(1)  a GCSE in mathematics in each year since 1997;
	(2)  a GCSE in English in each year since 1997;
	(3)  a GCSE in mathematics at grade C or above in each year since 1997;
	(4)  a GCSE in English at grade C or above in each year since 1997;
	(5)  at least one GCSE, excluding equivalents, in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information required can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  GCSE achievements of 15-year-old pupils in all schools, based on pupils aged 15 at the start of the academic year 
			   Total number of pupils  Number who did not achieve A*-C  Number who did not achieve A*-G  Number not entered for subject 
			 Mathematics 
			 2007 656,432 304,299 62,673 43,946 
			 2006 648,942 307,035 57,547 38,399 
			 2005 636,771 307,945 54,958 35,976 
			 2004 643,560 324,686 58,684 37,558 
			 2003 622,122 323,382 59,986 37,105 
			 2002 606,554 308,765 55,378 37,703 
			 2001 603,318 316,637 57,992 39,466 
			 2000 580,393 310,588 57,819 40,459 
			 1999 580,972 320,311 64,459 44,193 
			 1998 575,210 325,268 74,982 48,328 
			 1997 586,766 336,770 76,522 52,774 
			  
			 English 
			 2007 656,432 269,433 50,205 43,753 
			 2006 648,942 271,091 51,728 42,327 
			 2005 636,771 271,650 53,325 43,134 
			 2004 643,560 284,310 57,573 45,939 
			 2003 622,122 274,583 52,784 44,895 
			 2002 606,554 271,235 54,299 46,355 
			 2001 603,318 278,088 54,573 47,926 
			 2000 580,393 267,808 52,769 47,166 
			 1999 580,972 274,520 55,723 50,799 
			 1998 575,210 283,568 60,504 55,227 
			 1997 586,766 294,590 67,212 53,418 
			  
			 All subjects 
			 2007 656,432 152,944 30,802 23,562 
			 2006 648,942 153,425 31,982 24,601 
			 2005 636,771 154,508 32,778 24,253 
			 2004 643,560 162,999 35,503 26,656 
			 2003 622,122 159,730 33,747 25,844 
			 2002 606,554 154,633 33,324 25,887 
			 2001 603,318 158,567 33,647 26,592 
			 2000 580,393 154,769 32,905 26,875 
			 1999 580,972 160,506 35,597 29,678 
			 1998 575,210 165,465 38,380 30,823 
			 1997 586,766 173,197 45,074 35,232

Gorton Education Village

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the sources of funding are for the rebuilding of Cedar Mount School and Melland School into Gorton Education Village; and what the cost of that rebuilding is.

Jim Knight: The Gorton Education Village project in East Manchester will create a single-site campus on an eight acre site providing 900 co-educational spaces and 110 specialist support special educational needs (SEN) places. This 100 per cent. new build project will combine Cedar Mount High School with Melland SEN High School. Construction commenced in September 2006 and the Education Village is due to be operational at the start of the new academic year in September 2008.
	Manchester city council has been allocated 202 million of Government capital grant to Manchester for the schools in its wave 1 Building Schools for the Future project and the council has set aside approximately 10 million to supplement this. The Government funding includes 16.4 million for Cedar Mount School and 9.7 million for Melland School. Manchester city council has established a programme-level contingency fund, some of which may be allocated to the Gorton Education Village project.

Music: Education

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) primary and  (b) secondary age children took music lessons in schools outside the national curriculum in each London borough in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: This information is not held centrally.
	However, in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2007, the Department commissioned surveys of local authority music services, which collected data on the prevalence of music tuition. Survey reports are available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/research/programmeofresearch/projectinformation.cfm?projected=15161keyword=music%20services keywordlist1=Local%20authoritieskeywordlist2=Artskeywordlist3 =0andor=ortype=0resultspage=1
	These are national data rather than broken down by local authority, but they provide an indication of the music tuition that children and young people are receiving.

Personal Income: Wales

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what account was taken of the parameters set by the devolution settlement in the development of the proposed powers to pass information on an individual's benefits, income tax and tax credit status to the Welsh Assembly Government in clauses 72 and 73 of the Education and Skills Bill.

Jim Knight: The Welsh Assembly government has been fully involved in the development of these proposals. The Welsh Ministers have devolved responsibility for education, skills, economic development and regeneration and therefore have a legitimate interest in the data sharing proposals as they will help them to monitor their policies to improve skills and the levels of sustainable employment in Wales. The Welsh Assembly government will supply data on the learning achievements of learners in Wales to DWP and will have access to aggregated data with items that explicitly identify individuate removed. These data will be on income tax, tax credits and benefits.
	Section 72 and 73 of the Education and Skills Bill will enhance the ability of the Welsh Assembly government to analyse the effect of their spending on education and skills training, identify opportunities to modify activity to improve economic and social outcomes in Wales; and generally to assist in ensuring that their decisions with regard to education and training are made on a sound basis. Education outcome data supplied from Wales will be matched at an individual level by DWP, but will only be used for analysis in Wales as an aggregated dataset. The precise nature of the data items that will be matched and aggregated has yet to be defined.

Private Education: Specialised Diplomas

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which independent schools sent representatives to the national conference to discuss the new diplomas.

Jim Knight: Those independent schools represented at the national conference test December on 14-19 Reforms and independent Schools are listed as follows:
	 Independent School Recommendation at the 14-19 Reforms and Independent Schools' conference on 3 December 2007
	 Final attendee list : independent s chools
	Licensed Victuallers' School
	London East Academy
	Bearwood College
	The King Alfred School
	Queen's Gate School
	Trinity School
	Moira House School
	Bradford Girls' Grammar School
	Reed's School
	Bristol Cathedral School
	St. Mary's School Cambridgeshire
	The Towers Convent School
	St. Mary's School Buckinghamshire
	Redland High School for Girls
	Kingston Grammar School
	Beaulieu School Jersey
	Wolverhampton Grammar School
	Dodderhill School
	The Gregg School
	Gads Hill School
	James Allen's Girls' School
	Bury Grammar School
	St. James Independent School for Boys
	The Royal School
	Warminster School
	The Maynard School
	Croydon High School for Girls
	Havington School
	Combe Bank School
	King William's College
	St. Swithun's School
	Uppingham School
	Brighton College
	Sutton High School GDST
	Thetford Grammar School
	Kings School
	St. Bees School
	Uplands School
	Yam School
	The King's School, Canterbury
	Sutton High School
	Peniel Academy
	Wakefield Girls' High School
	Queen's College London
	Lancing College
	St. Albans High School for Girls
	Purcell School
	Shrewsbury School
	Clifton High School
	Saint Nicholas School
	Princethorpe College
	Rushmoor School
	Gateways School
	Luckley-Oakfield School
	Kingswood School
	The Abbey School
	St. Teresa's School
	Northampton High School
	Farrington School
	Leighton Park School
	Stanbridge Earls School
	Palmers Green High School
	St. Dominics Priory
	Canbury School
	Ryde School
	Harvington School
	Withington Girls' School
	St. Benedict's School
	Langley School
	Magdalen College School
	City of London School for Girls
	Wellington College
	Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
	Birkdale School
	Gosfield School
	Forest School
	Francis Holland School
	International College, Sherborne School
	Bolton School
	Solihull School
	The Dixie Grammar School
	Cranford House School
	Holy Trinity School
	Dean Close School
	Norwich School
	Malvern St. James Worcestershire
	Wimbledon High School
	Kent College
	Dunottar School
	Rugby School
	The Princess Helena College
	Howell's School
	Ewell Castle School
	The Towers Convent School
	Exeter School
	Northamptonshire Grammar School
	Reed's School
	Tudor Hall
	Hull Collegiate School
	St Gabriel's
	The New Eccles Hall School
	Amberfield School
	Stover School
	Ipswich High School
	Riverston School
	South Hampstead High School
	New Hall School
	St. Leonards Mayfield School
	Glenalmond College
	The Godolphin and Latymer School
	King's School, Bruton
	St. James Independent School for Senior Girls
	St. Mary's College
	Wakefield Girls' High School
	Rookwood School
	Leehurst Swan
	The Manchester Grammar School
	Harrow School
	Brigidine School
	The Mount School
	Frensham Heights School
	Ampleforth College
	Burgess Hill School for Girls
	Kirkham Grammar School
	Austin Friars St. Monica's School
	Worth School
	D'Overbroek's College
	Hurtwood House School
	Battle Abbey School
	The Elvian School
	Hethersett Old Hall School
	Hampton School
	Taunton School
	Latymer Upper School
	Gateways School
	Bablake School
	Dame Alice Harpur School
	Peterborough High School
	Elmhurst School for Dance
	Culcheth Hall School
	King Edward's School Surrey
	Northwood College
	Uplands School
	Hampton School
	Streatham and Clapham High School
	Thornton College
	Putney High School
	Bury Lawn School
	St. Ursula's School
	Peterborough and St. Margaret's School
	North London Collegiate School
	Sir William Perkin's School
	The Lady Eleanor Holles School
	St. Columbia's College
	Oldham Hulme Grammar Schools
	Babington House School
	Rishworth School
	Warwick School
	Leckford Place School
	Normanhurst School
	Queen Anne's School
	St. Andrew's School
	Teesside High School
	King Edward VI High School for Girls
	Bedford High School for Girls
	Shrewsbury High School
	Ryde School
	Sherborne School for Girls
	Lord Wandsworth College
	Eton College
	Thorpe Hall School
	Our Lady's Abingdon
	The Perse School
	Cheltenham College
	The John Lyon School
	Bruton School for Girls
	Stowe School
	Merchant Taylors' School
	Casterton School
	Derby High School
	St Gabriel's
	Loughborough Grammar
	Bridgewater School
	Thornton College
	St Joseph's Convent School
	St. Helen's School
	Queen Elizabeth Grammar School
	Frewen College
	Bedford Modern School
	Manchester High School for Girls
	St. David's School
	Farlington School
	Ockbrook School
	Stamford High School
	Burgess Hill School for Girls
	Red House School
	Sackville School
	Bootham School
	Tormead School
	Reigate Grammar School
	Our Lady's Abingdon
	The Marist Senior School
	Merchant Taylors' Girls' School
	Hall School
	Worksop College
	Queens College Taunton
	Kingsley School
	St. Helen's School
	The Portsmouth Grammar School
	Portland Place School
	Leicester High School for Girls
	Haileybury School
	Luckley-Oakfield School
	Salesian College
	Manor House School
	Nottingham High School
	Greenacre School for Girls
	Milton Abbey School
	Silcoates School

Schools: Bus Services

Linda Riordan: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what powers local authorities have to include schools from outside their areas in their school bus pass schemes;
	(2)  who is responsible for policy on school bus passes;
	(3)  what the objectives of the Government's changes to school bus passes in 2006 were.

Jim Knight: Local authorities have to make transport arrangements where they consider it necessary to secure a child's attendance at school. If transport is necessary, then it must be provided free of charge.
	In most cases, it is for the home local authority of the individual child to decide if transport is necessary. A child will be automatically entitled to free transport if they are of compulsory school age and attend the nearest suitable school regardless of whether it is in the child's home authority or not, and the school is further away than the 'statutory walking distance'. The statutory walking distances are two miles for pupils below the age of eight and three miles for those aged eight and over.
	The Education and Inspection Act 2006 introduced extended rights to free home to school transport for low income families. One of the objectives of the new school travel legislation is to secure fair access to schoolsespecially for children from low income groups, where lack of affordable transport can act as a barrier to choice.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families has policy responsibility for Home to School Transport. The issuing of bus passes is a local decision made at the discretion of the local authority.

Schools: Sanitation

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) secondary and  (b) primary schools have been criticised by Ofsted for having poor toilet provision in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 14 July 2008:
	Parliamentary question number 217680: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, how many (a) secondary and (b) primary schools have been criticised by Ofsted for having poor toilet provision in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	The inspection framework for maintained schools does not have a specific judgement on toilet and washroom provision. However, inspectors consider the welfare of learners and the provision for their needs. Therefore, where there is concern about toilets, they may give details in the text of the report. On occasion, inspectors have also commented favourably on good quality provision.
	Since 2001, inspectors have reported on the unsatisfactory state of toilets in 290 secondary schools and in 700 primary schools from a total of 32,300 inspection reports scrutinised. 3,100 reports made some mention of toilet provision and, within these reports, a range of more positive findings were reported in primary and secondary schools, A typical example is the role of the student council in raising funds to refurbish toilets.
	In relation to both secondary and primary schools, there has been a reduction in negative responses from 2001 to 2007. In 2001 there were 200 references and by 2007 there were only 25.
	These results should be treated with caution. As there is no requirement to report on toilet provision, whether or not this is mentioned is up to the professional judgment of the inspector concerned.
	At present, Ofsted also inspects all independent schools not associated with the Independent Schools Council, approximately 1100 out of a total of 2,500 schools in England. The Education (Independent School Standards) (England) Regulations 2003 set out the standards for Ofsted's inspection of independent schools. Regulation 5(k) requires that there are sufficient washrooms for staff and pupils, including facilities for pupils with special needs, taking account of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1999. Since autumn 2003, 378 primary and 823 secondary schools in the Independent sector have bean inspected. Of these, 59 primary (14%) and 113 secondary (16%) have recorded a fail for this regulation.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Jim Knight MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Schools: Sustainable Development

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what progress has been made against each of the eight existing doorways in achieving the aspirational 2020 targets for sustainable schools;
	(2)  how many schools are taking part in the National Framework for Sustainable Schools.

Jim Knight: The Ofsted Self-Evaluation Form invites schools to include information about their performance against the National Framework for Sustainable Schools. However, using the framework is voluntary and we do not collect data about how many schools have chosen to follow the framework or on individual schools' progress against each doorway towards the 2020 targets.
	Respondents to the consultation on the National Framework for Sustainable Schools in summer 2006, and pilot users of the s3: Sustainable Schools Self-evaluation first published in May 2006, asked for interim targets for schools aiming to be sustainable by 2020. We have updated the s3 and published guidance Planning a Sustainable Schooldriving school improvement through sustainable development and using this guidance, schools can identify their own milestones of progress to becoming a fully sustainable school by 2020.

Secondary Education: Admissions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families of the cohort which began secondary school in 2003-04, how many were on the school register at the beginning of the school year in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2007-08.

Jim Knight: The requested information could be provided only at disproportionate cost

Secondary Education: Standards

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many National Challenge schools have been visited by Ministers in his Department and its predecessors in the last three years;
	(2)  how many visits  (a) he and  (b) Ministers in his Department have made to schools which had fewer than 30 per cent. of their pupils in 2007 achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or above including English and mathematics in the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The National Challenge programme was launched in June. Those schools eligible to receive support (those which had fewer than 30 per cent. of their pupils in 2007 achieving five or more GCSEs at grade C or above, including English and mathematics) were only identified in January of this year using 2007 schools data. Since January, Ministers have visited 24 of those schools and colleges, including 12 visits made by the Secretary of State.

Secondary Education: Standards

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which National Challenge schools achieved an improvement in their GCSE results which was greater than the national average in the last two years.

Jim Knight: The information requested has been placed in the Libraries.

Special Educational Needs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many placements of children with special educational needs in each local authority have been appealed against in each of the last three years.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of appeals registered with the Special Education Needs and Disability Tribunal against each local authority for the last three years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Number of Appeals 
			   1 September 2006 to 31 August 2007  1 September 2005 to 31 August 2006  1 September 2004 to 31 August 2005 
			 Barking and Dagenham 7 21 13 
			 Barnet 40 32 40 
			 Barnsley 8 6 6 
			 Bath and North East Somerset 9 11 7 
			 Bedfordshire 15 26 34 
			 Bexley 37 48 20 
			 Birmingham 83 119 158 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 5 7 2 
			 Blackpool 1 4 3 
			 Bolton 5 5 6 
			 Bournemouth 4 4 3 
			 Bracknell Forest 3 7 5 
			 Bradford 21 25 23 
			 Brent 8 17 22 
			 Brighton and Hove 9 12 14 
			 Bristol, City of 49 52 53 
			 Bromley 87 80 53 
			 Buckinghamshire 26 35 30 
			 Bury 9 9 11 
			 Calderdale 16 19 27 
			 Cambridgeshire 27 38 26 
			 Camden 17 9 11 
			 Cheshire 27 46 26 
			 City of London 0 0 0 
			 Cornwall 12 24 20 
			 Coventry 3 6 2 
			 Croydon 62 78 65 
			 Cumbria 17 17 15 
			 Darlington 0 0 3 
			 Derby 10 7 8 
			 Derbyshire 16 19 24 
			 Devon 38 35 32 
			 Doncaster 16 8 4 
			 Dorset 17 15 11 
			 Dudley 11 7 17 
			 Durham 30 28 37 
			 Ealing 15 20 31 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 9 6 7 
			 East Sussex 66 81 68 
			 Enfield 31 41 22 
			 Essex 179 138 127 
			 Gateshead 4 6 9 
			 Gloucestershire 25 25 19 
			 Greenwich 11 14 21 
			 Hackney 23 28 41 
			 Halton 0 2 5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 21 12 17 
			 Hampshire 115 98 104 
			 Haringey 14 32 26 
			 Harrow 19 18 28 
			 Hartlepool 01 0 0 
			 Havering 4 1 0 
			 Herefordshire 3 9 4 
			 Hertfordshire 70 74 84 
			 Hillingdon 11 20 10 
			 Hounslow 15 12 6 
			 Isle of Wight 10 8 9 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 
			 Islington 8 5 7 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 7. 8 10 
			 Kent 133 160 149 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 15 14 9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 11 13 24 
			 Kirklees 13 24 15 
			 Knowsley 5 8 9 
			 Lambeth 44 58 59 
			 Lancashire 43 63 66 
			 Leeds 13 25 21 
			 Leicester 27 30 21 
			 Leicestershire 74 37 26 
			 Lewisham 52 72 78 
			 Lincolnshire 65 43 42 
			 Liverpool 28 26 21 
			 Luton 3 7 7 
			 Manchester 24 26 28 
			 Medway 23 16 14 
			 Merton 15 21 14 
			 Middlesbrough 8 5 7 
			 Milton Keynes 8 8 9 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne 5 4 3 
			 Newham 23 25 19 
			 Norfolk 56 53 40 
			 North East Lincolnshire 13 9 15 
			 North Lincolnshire 2 15 11 
			 North Somerset 16 13 10 
			 North Tyneside 8 2 10 
			 North Yorkshire 26 30 13 
			 Northamptonshire 25 16 16 
			 Northumberland 4 7 6 
			 Nottingham 7 5 12 
			 Nottinghamshire 30 21 9 
			 Oldham 6 14 11 
			 Oxfordshire 15 25 21 
			 Peterborough 8 8 15 
			 Plymouth 9 8 6 
			 Poole 8 8 6 
			 Portsmouth 9 7 10 
			 Reading 9 2 4 
			 Redbridge 28 30 18 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 5 0 0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 18 25 29 
			 Rochdale 5 5 3 
			 Rotherham 19 20 22 
			 Rutland 0 1 0 
			 Salford 9 14 9 
			 Sandwell 4 8 11 
			 Sefton 7 15 6 
			 Sheffield 35 33 15 
			 Shropshire 17 46 23 
			 Slough 7 5 2 
			 Solihull 9 15 12 
			 Somerset 27 32 26 
			 South Gloucestershire 13 11 8 
			 South Tyneside 2 1 4 
			 Southampton 23 16 7 
			 Southend-on-Sea 10 14 12 
			 Southwark 37 41 46 
			 St. Helens 3 3 3 
			 Staffordshire 17 37 36 
			 Stockport 9 20 6 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1 3 5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 19 7 15 
			 Suffolk 53 74 55 
			 Sunderland 10 5 10 
			 Surrey 125 120 120 
			 Sutton 23 16 8 
			 Swindon 4 9 7 
			 Tameside 18 4 7 
			 Telford and Wrekin 3 4 6 
			 Thurrock 7 11 11 
			 Torbay 2 2 4 
			 Tower Hamlets 12 2 4 
			 Trafford 10 13 17 
			 Wakefield 9 7 5 
			 Walsall 14 13 27 
			 Waltham Forest 15 24 32 
			 Wandsworth 30 30 35 
			 Warrington 5 6 1 
			 Warwickshire 10 18 9 
			 West Berkshire 10 7 4 
			 West Sussex 56 43 39 
			 Westminster 10 14 11 
			 Wigan 4 10 14 
			 Wiltshire 23 58 47 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 9 17 14 
			 Wirral 7 6 9 
			 Wokingham 5 6 8 
			 Wolverhampton 4 2 9 
			 Worcestershire 15 24 38 
			 York 5 1 4 
			 Total 3,110 3,411 3,215

Special Educational Needs

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average time was between the lodging of an appeal with a special educational needs and disability tribunal and a tribunal decision in each of the last three years.

Kevin Brennan: The Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal (SENDIST) records the average time taken from registering an SEN appeal to issuing a decision by the school year from September to August. This information has been previously published in the SENDIST annual reports.
	The following table shows the average time taken from registration of an SEN appeal by SENDIST to the time a decision following a tribunal hearing is issued.
	
		
			  School year  Number decisions issued  Average number of months 
			 2004-05 1,147 4.4 
			 2005-06 1,038 5.2 
			 2006-07 1,045 5.5 
			  Note:  Not all appeals registered end up with a decision as a substantial number of appeals are withdrawn by the parent or conceded by the local authority. 
		
	
	SENDIST also registers claims of disability discrimination and the following table shows the average time taken from registration of a claim to the issue of a decision.
	
		
			  School year  Number of decisions  Average number of months 
			 2004-05 55 6.1 
			 2005-06 56 5.5 
			 2006-07 85 5.7 
		
	
	SENDIST reports that these claims have proved to be more complicated than SEN appeals involving much paperwork, lengthy hearings and many witnesses and this is reflected in the average disposal time.

World Book Day

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department took to involve schools in celebrating World Book Day in 2008.

Jim Knight: The Department funds the National Literacy Trust (NLT) to run the National Reading Campaign, which promotes reading for pleasure throughout the whole community. To celebrate World Book Day, the NLT contributed a double-page article for the World Book Day magazine, distributed to schools, including suggestions for how schools could take part. NLT also featured World Book Day on the front page of the NLT and Reading Connects websites, and promoted the Day in the training courses which they offer to teachers.
	The National Reading Campaign forms part of the 2008 National Year of Reading (NYR), also funded by my Department. The NYR aims to promote and celebrate reading for all, and in all its formsanything, anytime, anyplace. World Book Day was highlighted on the NYR website as part of the challenge period prior to the official launch of the year on 31 March 2008.

Wright Robinson Sports College

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the sources of funding for the rebuilding of Wright Robinson Sports College in Manchester, Gorton constituency are; and what the cost of the rebuilding is.

Jim Knight: The Government supported the rebuilding of Wright Robinson Sports College through the private finance initiative (PFI). Manchester local authority received 35 million PFI credits which equates to a capital value of 24.1 million.
	The total value of the contract let by Manchester local authority was 29.79 million.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the net financial effect of the e-borders programme on the aviation industry.

Liam Byrne: It has been estimated that the capital investment required over 10 years is in the region of 52 million (of which 32 million falls to UK based carriers). The total running costs over the same period are projected to be an estimated 278 million (of which 171 million falls to UK carriers). These estimates have been based upon figures provided by carriers and the assessment of Project Semaphore.
	The potential financial costs to the aviation industry of implementing the data collection requirements of the e-Borders programme have been analysed as part of a regulatory impact assessment, connected with the laying of secondary legislation to permit data collection and sharing by the border agencies. The regulatory impact assessment can be found at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/eBorders-RIA-2008-01-10?view=Binary
	There will be a potential benefit to carriers with reduction in carriers liability (CL) and removals costs. The ability of carriers to provide evidence that passengers appeared properly documented at the start of their journey will help them avoid the imposition of a CL charge. This would, in turn, reduce the incidence of detention and removal costs for carriers.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  when she expects all passenger movements to utilise passenger name record data;
	(2)  for which UK routes she expects passenger name record data to be used by December 2013.

Liam Byrne: There are currently no plans to collect passenger name record data for all passenger movements.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when her Department plans to launch the consultation into the Authority to Carry scheme.

Liam Byrne: The Government have committed to a full consultation period on the introduction of an Authority to Carry scheme. This consultation period will be launched following the completion of ongoing development work and initial discussions with stakeholders.

Borders: Personal Records

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1241W, on borders: personal records, when she expects the first manual phase of the Authority to Carry scheme to be implemented.

Liam Byrne: In line with our commitment in 'Securing the UK Border', an Authority to Carry scheme will be implemented following the introduction of regulations required under s124 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. These regulations will be brought forward for parliamentary approval in due course, following a 12-week consultation period.

Borders: Personal Records

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extended functionality and services in relation to the e-borders programme have been agreed.

Liam Byrne: The following extended functionality and services to the e-Borders Programme have been agreed:
	Capture of Other Passenger Information (OPI), including reservations data, on selected routes in advance of arrival or departure;
	Capture of data on selected domestic routes in advance of arrival or departure;
	Profiling of passenger data.

Borders: Personal Records

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what role Deloitte have played in the e-borders programme; at what cost to date; and what the full contractual cost of using Deloitte is estimated to be.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 July 2008
	Deloitte consultancy services provided support to the procurement process to acquire a service provider for the e-Borders Programme. Their role included assisting with bidder discussions and contract finalisation activities. Since the contract was awarded to Trusted Borders, and subsequent to the transition phase from procurement to implementation, Deloitte has provided advisory support to various workstreams of the programme. This is in relation to the design of the e-Borders solution.
	The cost to date of the services provided by Deloitte is 23.8 million. The full contractual cost is unavailable as Deloitte support is ongoing with, a variable resource requirement.

Borders: Personal Records

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extended functionality and services to the e-borders programme have been agreed since the contract with Raytheon began; whether the other consortia which competed for the contract were informed of the extended functionality and service requirements prior to the selection of the Raytheon consortium; and whether any of the original consortia bidding for the contract submitted extended functionality and service requirements in their original bids.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 16 July 2008
	Since the award of the e-Borders Programme contract, a number of extended functionality and service requirements have been agreed. These services are:
	Other Passenger Information (OPI);
	Domestic Travel System Services (DTS);
	Profiling.
	A number of possible additional services were identified during the procurement process (including OPI, DTS and Profiling) and were not therefore included in the original bids.
	OPI, DTS and Profiling services were identified as requirements before contract award. Both shortlisted bidders were aware of these and included them in their BAFO responses.

Crime: Victims

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government has taken to minimise any harmful effects arising from police questioning of victims of crime.

Tony McNulty: The National Policing Improvement Agency, alongside the Association of Chief Police Officers, work to improve the professional competence of all police officers and staff tasked with conducting investigations by assessing individual practitioner's performance measured against established national standards. These standards are applied, not just at the conclusion of interview training, but also throughout an individual's career by supervision, appraisal and review of performance.
	The intermediary special measure provision of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 is currently being rolled out nationally with completion expected by September. As well as providing support at the trial for vulnerable witnesses, an intermediary assesses a witness at the investigative stage and provides support to ensure that the witness is asked appropriate questions.
	The Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) updated Achieving Best Evidence in Criminal Proceedings: Guidance for Vulnerable or Intimidated Witnesses, including Children, which was launched in autumn 2007, This provides guidance and best practice on how to interview appropriately vulnerable and intimidated witnesses, how to identify their needs and wishes and the support available to them. OCJR is currently in the process of revising the other guidance in the suite of documents published in 2001-02 to support the implementation of Special Measures. This includes the guidance document Vulnerable Witnesses: A Police Service Guide, which is aimed at aiding front-line officers identify vulnerable witnesses, so that they can receive the support they need.

Departmental Alcoholic Drinks

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place in her Department to monitor expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes.

Liam Byrne: Department budget holders are responsible for ensuring that in considering proposals relating to the expenditure of alcohol for hospitality, all relevant financial implications, including those relating to propriety, regularity and value for money, are taken into account.
	They are also responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the information held on the accounting system for their area and, where applicable, that accounting records are maintained in a form suited to the requirements of management as well as in the form prescribed for published accounts.
	Home Office expenditure on alcohol for hospitality purposes conforms to departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, which complies with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety.
	The definition of hospitality includes the provision of drink for non civil servants where it is beneficial to the interests of the Department.

Departmental Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the schedule of charges levied for minor works under the Home Office facilities management contract with Ecovert FM for 2 Marsham Street.

Liam Byrne: Ecovert FM is contracted to the 2 Marsham Street PFI provider Anne's Gate Properties (AGP). The PFI contract contains what was at the time a standard confidentiality clause. The supplier has advised that it does not wish this commercially sensitive information to be disclosed and I am therefore unable to disclose the information requested.

Departmental Data Protection

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which external agencies and companies personal data held by her Department has been transferred in the last 12 months.

Liam Byrne: All sharing of personal data is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998) and the Human Rights Acts (1998). The Home Office also has a number of pieces of legislation permitting the disclosure of information, subject to the DPA and HRA, including:
	Crime and Disorder Act 1998;
	Police Acts 1996, 1997 and 2006;
	Immigration and Asylum Act 1999;
	Identity Cards Act 2006;
	Children Act 2004; and
	Social Security Administration Act (1997).
	In order to protect the public, the Home Office shares personal data with a number of other organisations including law enforcement agencies, other border control agencies, agencies involved in the protection of children and vulnerable adults, and agencies responsible for vetting and barring.

Departmental Disciplinary Proceedings

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff in her Department and its agencies have been  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct in the last two years.

Liam Byrne: The number of staff who were  (a) dismissed and  (b) disciplined for their conduct during the period 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2008, is set out in the attached table.
	The Department's disciplinary procedures have a number of stages, some informal and some formal. Information on the procedures is available to staff through the department's intranet sites, to which all staff have access.
	
		
			  Breakdown of disciplinary action across Home Office 
			   Dismissed  Disciplined short of dismissal 
			 Home Office headquarters 6 7 
			 UK Border Agency 105 310 
			 Identity and Passport Service 24 73 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 0 0 
			 Total 135 390

Departmental Research

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of her Department's budget was used for research within its areas of responsibility in each of the last 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Financial year  Proportion (percentage) 
			 1998-99 0.23 
			 1999-2000 0.22 
			 2000-01 0.29 
			 2001-02 0.28 
			 2002-03 0.43 
			 2003-04 0.37 
			 2004-05 0.59 
			 2005-06 0.27 
			 2006-07 0.17 
			 2007-08 (estimated outturn) 0.27 
		
	
	The Home Office 2008 Departmental Report (publication Cm 7396), published in May 2008, details outturn and planned spend on research activities for years 2002-03 to 2007-08. Similar information for years 1999-2000 to 2001-02 can be found in the Home Office 2005 Departmental Report (publication Cm 6528), published in June 2005; 1998-99 figures can be found in the Department's 2003 Annual Report (Command Paper 5908).

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures her Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Liam Byrne: When arranging inward secondments, the Home Office operates a selection policy for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, in accordance with the guidance set down in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code. The exception to this policy of fair and open competitionan exception which is allowed under the codeis where there is an urgent business need to fill a post and an individual is known to have the skills and experience required for the role. In these cases, the secondee can be appointed without a fair and open competition process, but the secondment period is expected to be limited to a period of 24 months or less.

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Liam Byrne: The Home office has undertaken a variety of measures to reduce waste generated and sent to landfill. These include segregation of all recyclable materials from HO headquarters waste, use of double-sided printing where possible to minimise paper waste and the raising of staff awareness through dedicated sustainable development intranet pages advising staff on what they can to do to reduce waste arisings in the office. The Home Office, in line with other Government Departments, has recently stopped providing commercially bottled water at meetings in an effort to further reduce the amount of waste generated.

Deportation: Sudan

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been deported to  (a) Darfur and  (b) Khartoum in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: Removal statistics are recorded on a country basis only and the requested information would only be available by examination of individual case files at disproportionate cost . Destination data have only been collated since 2004; published information prior to this is not available.
	35 persons were removed or departed voluntarily to Sudan in 2004; 60 in 2005; 90 in 2006 and 80 in 2007. Figures include persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them, persons leaving under assisted voluntary return programmes run by the International Organization for Migration and since January 2005 those who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities. Figures are rounded to the nearest five and information for 2006 and 2007 is provisional.
	Further National Statistics on removals from the UK are available from the Library of the House and the Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html.
	On 9 July 2008, Ministers announced that the Government have deferred enforcing the return of non-Arab Darfuri asylum seekers to Sudan pending the outcome of a country guidance case that is due to be heard by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in the near future. The case, originally listed to be heard in May, is currently waiting to be relisted and will address the safety of return to Khartoum.

Domestic Violence: Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government plans to extend the domestic violence rule to include all abused women with insecure immigration status.

Liam Byrne: If a woman has suffered abuse, but due to her particular circumstances is unable to meet the requirements of the immigration rules relating to domestic violence, it is already open to her to apply for leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain outside the immigration rules.

Emergency Calls

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of emergency calls were met within the target time by the Metropolitan Police in each of the last three years.

Tony McNulty: The City of London's emergency calls are also dealt with by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). The MPS has adopted a target time of 15 seconds for responding to 999 calls.
	In 2004-05 86.4 per cent. of calls were responded to within the MPS target time, in 2005-06 85.1 per cent. were responded to and in 2006-07 the figure was 81.3 per cent.
	These data are based on provisional information which has not been verified with individual police forces.

Entry Clearances: Iran

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints the British Embassy in Tehran received on the visa application procedure in each of the last 36 months; and how many were dealt with within the target 24 hour response time.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 17 July 2008
	Details of complaints received by the visa section at the British embassy in Tehran in each of the last 30 months is given in the following table. Data prior to January 2006 are not held. Please note that the published target time for dealing with complaints is 20 days, not 24 hours. These data have not been published and should be treated as provisional.
	
		
			   Number of complaints  Number dealt with within 20 days 
			  2006   
			 January 0 0 
			 February 0 0 
			 March 0 0 
			 April 0 0 
			 May 3 3 
			 June 0 0 
			 July 0 0 
			 August 0 0 
			 September 0 0 
			 October 2 2 
			 November 0 0 
			 December 0 0 
			
			  2007   
			 January 0 0 
			 February 0 0 
			 March 1 1 
			 April 0 0 
			 May 1 1 
			 June 6 6 
			 July 1 1 
			 August 1 1 
			 September 0 0 
			 October 4 4 
			 November 0 0 
			 December 0 0 
			
			  2008   
			 January 3 1 
			 February 0 0 
			 March 1 1 
			 April 2 1 
			 May 0 0 
			 June 0 0 
			 Total 25 22

Essex Police Authority: Manpower

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) operational police officers per head of population there were in Essex Police Authority in (i) 2007 and (ii) to date in 2008.

Tony McNulty: The available data are given in the following table.
	Data are collected annually and data relating to 31 March 2008 will be released on 22 July 2008.
	
		
			  Police officer strength for Essex police force area, as at 31 March 2007 (FTE)( 1,2) 
			   Total officers per 100,000 population  Total operational officers per 100,000 population 
			 2007(3) 203 196 
			 (1) Full-time equivalent. This figure includes those on career breaks or maternity/paternity leave. (2) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. (3) Functional group totals do not match published figures. Data quality may be an issue with this force.

Fish Supplies

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much fish was procured by her Department and at what cost in each of the last five years, broken down by species; and what amount and value of such fish met the Marine Stewardship Council standard in each such year, broken down by species.

Liam Byrne: My Department, inclusive, of its agencies does not contract directly for food or fish supplies but procures catering services through wider Facilities Management (FM) or operational service contractors.
	To obtain this information would incur disproportionate costs.

Foreign Nationals

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the percentage of foreign nationals who will be counted  (a) in and  (b) out of the UK under the border and immigration system in 2008.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 May 2008
	It is estimated that the e-Borders system currently captures the details of approximately 50 per cent. of the total number of foreign nationals (defined as non-EEA citizens) travelling in and out of the UK.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, whether UK Border Agency staff were able to ascertain the identities of passengers who left the domestic arrivals area prior to the error being identified.

Liam Byrne: There were five incidents where international passengers were misdirected to the domestic arrivals area by either British Airways or the British Airports Authority staff.
	On three of the occasions, a number of individuals had left the domestic arrivals area prior to the error being identified. UKBA staff completed checks on the individuals who had entered to ensure that they did not present a known risk to the UK.
	The airline provided UKBA staff with the relevant passenger information that was held on their systems, in line with established protocols and procedures. This was then used to carry out the necessary checks on all of the passengers who had travelled on the flights involved. These checks included cross checking the details of all those who had been on board the aircraft against Home Office databases. In addition, passengers' details were also passed on to the Metropolitan Police Service who carried out additional security checks.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, on what date each of the flights referred to occurred.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2008
	 Two flights were misdirected by British Airways staff on 27 and 31 March.
	On 3 April a flight was erroneously coached into the domestic baggage hall.
	On 19 April, the driver of the passenger bus went to the incorrect coaching area and erroneously dropped some passengers into the domestic arrivals area.
	On 21 April a flight was being coached from a remote stand into the main terminal, the final bus went to the incorrect coaching area and erroneously dropped seven passengers into the domestic arrivals area.
	All of these incidents were the result of errors made by the employees of either British Airways or the British Airports Authority. When notified of these events UKBA staff worked closely with the airport operator to secure the domestic arrivals area and to redirect the passengers to the appropriate area.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, on what date she was informed of each of the security lapses referred to in the answer.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2008
	 Of the five occasions where international passengers were misdirected by BAA or BA staff to the Domestic Arrivals area, the UK Border Agency, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, was immediately notified. UKBA staff then took appropriate and immediate remedial action.
	All the necessary checks were carried out on the arriving passengers with every passenger being checked against the warnings index. On no occasion during these checks was there any security alert, and none of the passengers who entered the UK presented a known security risk.
	The procedural issue was quickly addressed with the airport authority and the carriers. There have been no further occurrences of misdirecting flights through the Domestic area.
	Given that there was no direct threat or risk to the UK, arising from the procedural problem, the issue was not raised beyond the Head of the Border Force.

Heathrow Airport: Security

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 676W, on Heathrow Airport: security, what steps UK Border Agency staff took to monitor the effectiveness of the reviews of security.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 23 June 2008
	After each incident detailed in my response of 16 June, a review was conducted in conjunction with both the British Airports Authority and British Airways and these reviews identified a number of actions to reduce the risk of reoccurrence. Since these were implemented, the UK Border Agency has continued to monitor to ensure that further misdirections do not occur. This monitoring activity involves a combination of CCTV coverage, formal and discreet observation by UK Border Agency Staff to ensure that airline and airport staff are operating the correct procedures. In addition, a regular series of review meetings has been set up between the senior management teams of UKBA, BAA and British Airways to specifically monitor these issues.

Home Information Packs

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many home information packs have been commissioned by  (a) her Department and  (b) its agencies to market a residential property; for which properties; at what cost; and whether a voluntary home condition report was purchased as part of the packs.

Liam Byrne: None. The requirement to prepare home information packs applies to the marketing for sale of residential properties. My Department has not been involved in any such transactions since 1 August 2007.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to publish statistics on human trafficking including information from police and UK Border Agency operations that have taken place since 2005.

Vernon Coaker: We have provided regular information on statistics in relation to human trafficking both in relation to Operation Pentameter 1 and more recently, on 2 July, the announcement on 2 July of the outcomes of Operation Pentameter 2.
	There is no intention to produce a separate document on statistics on human trafficking given the large amount of information already available.

Human Trafficking

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many trafficked persons have been placed in  (a) the fast track system and  (b) the new asylum model since March 2007.

Liam Byrne: Information on the numbers of people identified as subjects of trafficking who have applied for asylum and been considered under these processes is not available and could be available only by examination of individual case records at disproportionate cost.
	Entry to fast track asylum processes is carefully assessed on an individual basis in accordance with suitability criteria. A person would usually be considered unsuitable for the detained fast track where there is independent evidence from a recognised organisation, such as the Poppy Project, that they had been a victim of trafficking.
	On 14 January 2008 the Home Secretary announced that the Government intend to make the necessary legislative and procedural changes to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking before the end of this year as part of its wider strategy to combat trafficking. These changes will include implementing a National Referral Mechanism to help co-ordinate the identification of victims and to ensure that their status is recorded centrally. Our plans are developing and we are on track to ratify at the end of the year.

Illegal Immigrants: Ostend

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the number of people attempting to enter the UK illegally via Ostend in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Belgian authorities estimate that in the first six months of 2008 they have prevented 632 separate clandestine attempts to enter the UK from Ostend.
	These figures have been sourced from locally collated management information and do not represent National Statistics. They have not been the subject of National Statistics protocols and verification and should therefore be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Illegal Immigrants: Ostend

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she is taking to try to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the UK from Ostend via Harwich and other UK ports.

Liam Byrne: The creation of the UK Border Agency has further strengthened our border by enabling customs and immigration staff to work more effectively and efficiently alongside one another as a single team protecting our borders.
	Harwich is one of five flagship ports where new ways of working have already been implemented. As part of this work, customs staff in Harwich received training and powers to search for clandestine entrants and to detain any illegal immigrants. This has led to increased coverage of the immigration risk at the port.
	We cannot disclose specific information relating to Intelligence Operations or deployment of staff at specific UK ports, as this information could prove of significant value to those seeking to circumvent our border controls. To release such information would impede our ability to prevent and detect immigration and customs offenders, thereby prejudicing the security of the UK border.

Illegal Immigrants: Police Custody

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to local police forces on the detention of illegal immigrants.

Liam Byrne: The Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) applies to all persons detained in police custody, including those detained under immigration legislation. No additional guidance specifically for immigration detainees in police cells has been issued.
	The United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) will respond to every police request where they encounter and arrest people who they have confirmed have been smuggled into the UK in lorries and take that person to immigration detention if appropriate. The UKBA have worked closely and in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers and have established Immigration Crime Partnerships with 85 per cent. of Constabularies in England and Wales with a target to increase this to 90 per cent. by 2008 and 100 per cent. by March 2009. The Government's plans, set out in 'Enforcing the Deal' published on 19 June 2008, set a clear goal to target and remove the most harmful people first, working with local authorities and enforcement agencies to shut down the privileges of the UK to those breaking the rules.
	Copies of this document are placed in the Library of the House. It is also available to view at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/managingourborders/enforcementbusinessplan08_09/enforcementbusinessplan08_09.pdf?view=Binary

Immigrants: Catering

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the numbers of skilled restaurant staff, especially chefs, who speak English to the required level, whom the (i) China and (ii) South Asian restaurant trades will be able to recruit overseas.

Liam Byrne: The Migration Advisory Committee is responsible for providing independent advice to the Government on skill shortages and migration. The Committee will report in August.

Immigrants: Deportation

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) failed asylum seekers and  (b) illegal immigrants were deported from the United Kingdom between October 2006 and October 2007.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office publishes statistics on the number of persons removed, including voluntary departures, from the UK on a quarterly basis. The numbers are broken down by asylum applicants, including dependants, and those who have not claimed asylum. The latest published information covers the final quarter in 2007 and is published in table 8b: Persons removed from the United Kingdom, in the quarterly web-based Asylum Statistics bulletin.
	It is not possible to say what stage in the asylum process people have reached at the time of their removal, including whether their claim has failed at that point, because those departing voluntarily can do so at any stage.
	Published statistics on immigration and asylum are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics Directorate website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.

Immigration

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued on the application of new paragraph 327B of the Immigration Rules.

Liam Byrne: Guidance on the application of new paragraph 320(7B) was made available to immigration officers and entry clearance officers on 1 April, and has been updated to take account of the concessions that have been announced to the changes since then.
	The guidance for entry clearance officers can be found in chapter 26.17 of the Entry Clearance Guidance, available at:
	http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/ecg/chapter26/.
	The guidance for immigration officers will be published in the summer and will be available at:
	www.ukba.gov.uk.

Immigration

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will exempt from the no recourse to public funds rule persons fleeing all forms of violence who are subject to immigration control.

Liam Byrne: Where a person makes a claim for asylum, regardless of the grounds on which that claim is made, and including asylum claims made on the basis of violence, that person will be supported by the UK Border Agency until that claim is determined, and will have no other recourse to public funds. If a person is subsequently granted refugee status or humanitarian protection in the United Kingdom they are granted leave that enables them to access public funds.
	Additionally, the immigration rules enable an applicant who has limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as the spouse, unmarried partner, registered civil partner or same sex partner of a British citizen or person present and settled in this country and whose marriage or relationship breaks down during the probationary period as a result of domestic violence to be granted indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom at which point they are not prohibited from accessing public funds.
	In March we announced a new scheme where victims of domestic violence who have no recourse to public funds may be eligible to receive support for their housing and living costs. Under the new scheme victims of domestic violence whose applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain are successful may qualify for a contribution towards these costs. Further details on this programme of work are still being worked up and will be available later this spring. The proposals under the new scheme will strengthen the way in which domestic violence cases are considered enabling those victims who are vulnerable to access immediate support.
	We have worked with the third sector and other partners to provide victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation with comprehensive support since 2003. In 2007 the UK became a signatory to the Council of Europe Convention against Trafficking in Human Beings which we are committed to ratifying by the end of 2008. This will enhance existing measures and will provide all identified victims of trafficking with minimum levels of support during a 'reflection period' and access to temporary residence permits in certain circumstances.

Immigration

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will ensure that the Minister of State gives personal consideration to the exceptional aspects of the case of Mrs. Sara Said, the constituent of the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam.

Liam Byrne: It is not the policy of the UK Border Agency to comment on individual cases but we will write to the hon. Member detailing our consideration of Mrs. Said's case.

Immigration Controls

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time was at immigration for non-EEA citizens entering the UK via London Heathrow Terminal One in the first six months of 2007.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency did not commence collating queue performance information in its current format until August 2007. It is therefore not possible to provide the average waiting time for non-EEA citizens entering the UK via Heathrow Terminal one for the first six months of 2007. Please find following, however, a table providing the most up-to-date queue performance at major London airports, including Heathrow, for the month of May.
	The UK Border Agency recognises that it has a responsibility to process genuine passengers without delay but the safety and security of the public remains a priority.
	There are currently arrangements in place at most ports to benchmark performance. Heathrow is among those airports that are currently using a 45 minutes (non-EEA) and 25 minutes (EEA) queuing time as such a benchmark. This is the maximum wait time in which we aim to process passengers and in turn informs staff deployment as well as informing considerations on further investment.
	We are clear that the average queuing times are well within these benchmarks but we will continue to work on reducing the occasions where those figures are exceeded.
	
		
			  Queuing times during May 2008 for London airports 
			  Location  Heathrow  Gatwick  Stansted  London City( 1) 
			  Non-EEA 
			 Average queue length (minutes) 12 15 12 3 
			  
			 Percentage over benchmark 2 4 0 0 
			  14 out of 598 measures 11 out of 270 measures 0 out of 95 measures 0 out of 74 measures 
			  
			  EEA 
			 Average queue length (minutes) 4 8 7 3 
			  
			 Percentage over benchmark 1 2 0 0 
			  8 out of 599 measures 5 out of 270 measures 0 out of 95 measures 0 out of 68 measures 
			 (1) London city operates single queues but these are predominantly EEA passengers.

Immigration Controls

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the average waiting time was at immigration for non-EEA citizens entering the UK via London Gatwick South Terminal in the first six months of 2007.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency did not commence collating queue performance information in its current format until August 2007. It is therefore not possible to provide the average waiting time for non-EEA citizens entering the UK via London Gatwick South Terminal in the first six months of 2007. Please find following, however, a table providing the most up-to-date queue performance at major London airports, including Gatwick, for the month of May.
	The UK Border Agency recognises that it has a responsibility to process genuine passengers without delay but the safety and security of the public remains a priority.
	There are currently arrangements in place at most ports to benchmark performance. Gatwick is among those airports that are currently using a 45 minutes (non-EEA) and 25 minutes (EEA) queuing time as such a benchmark. This is the maximum wait time in which we aim to process passengers and in turn informs staff deployment as well as informing considerations on further investment.
	We are clear that the average queuing times are well within these benchmarks but we will continue to work on reducing the occasions where those figures are exceeded.
	
		
			  Queuing times during May 2008 for London airports 
			  Location  Heathrow  Gatwick  Stansted  London City( 1) 
			  Non-EEA 
			 Average queue length (minutes) 12 15 12 3 
			  
			 Percentage over benchmark 2 4 0 0 
			  14 out of 598 measures 11 out of 270 measures 0 out of 95 measures 0 out of 74 measures 
			  
			  EEA 
			 Average queue length (minutes) 4 8 7 3 
			  
			 Percentage over benchmark 1 2 0 0 
			  8 out of 599 measures 5 out of 270 measures 0 out of 95 measures 0 out of 68 measures 
			 (1) London city operates single queues but these are predominantly EEA passengers.

Immigration Controls

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many educational establishments are expected to be involved as sponsors under the proposed points-based immigration system.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 31 March 2008
	 As the new licensing regime for colleges has not started, it is not possible to predict how many will pass.

Immigration Controls

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a foreign international in the UK may apply to immigrate under the points-based system while remaining in the UK.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 14 July 2008
	 A foreign-national who is in the UK may be given permission to stay under the points based system if he or she is here in an immigration category from which the immigration rules allow switching into the part of the new system that the applicant wants to join.
	For example, someone who is currently here as a work permit holder or student and wishes to switch into the highly skilled tier of PBS (Tier 1 (General)) may do so, provided he or she meets the other requirements of the immigration rules. But someone who has entered the country as a visitor or illegally may not. Full details may be found in part 6a of the immigration rules, available on the UK Border Agency website.

Immigration: Appeals

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many appeals against immigration decisions were allowed by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in each of the last three years; in how many of these cases the UK Border Agency and its predecessor  (a) issued status documents and  (b) made the appropriate passport endorsement within (i) one month, (ii) three months (iii) six months and (iv) were the six months of the determination; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The figures for the number of appeals against immigration decisions allowed at the first substantive immigration judge hearing are given as follows.
	The figures are rounded to the nearest 10. The figures for 2006-07 and 2007-08 are the latest provisional information from the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal's database.
	Managed migration figures include all immigration decisions where the applicant is already in the United Kingdom. Entry clearance figures include all immigration decisions where the appellant is outside the United Kingdom but exclude applications for visit visas.
	Information on the length of time taken to issues status documents and make the appropriate passport endorsements in each case are not routinely kept and the cost would be disproportionate to provide the information requested.
	
		
			   Managed migration  Entry clearance 
			 2005-06 4,970 11,690 
			 2006-07 5,510 21,580 
			 2007-08 6,640 18,560

Immigration: Appeals

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what target time her Department sets for the issue of status documents following a determination by the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal to allow an appeal against  (a) a decision to refuse indefinite leave to remain,  (b) an entry clearance officer's decision to refuse entry clearance to join a spouse in the UK and  (c) an entry clearance officer's decision to refuse an application for a visit visa; what the average time for the issue of such documents in each circumstance was in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Secretary of State for the Home Department does not set a target for the issue of status documents following an allowed appeal against  (a) a decision to refuse indefinite leave to remain or  (b) an entry clearance officer's decision to refuse entry clearance to join a spouse in the UK or  (c) an entry clearance officer's decision to refuse an application for a visit visa.
	Information on the time taken between promulgation of an appeal determination and the issue of status papers or a visa, or the relevant endorsement of a passport in each individual case is not routinely kept by either the Appeals Implementation Unit nor UK Visas and the cost would be disproportionate to provide the information requested.

Immigration: Children

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children who are British citizens are in immigration detention; and for how long they have been there.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 June 2008
	There were no children with British citizenship in any immigration removal centre as at Thursday, 22 May 2008. The UK Border Agency does not detain children who are British citizens. However, where a foreign national subject to enforced removal is parent to a child with British citizenship, it is possible for that child to accompany the parent through the enforcement process on a voluntary basis. Such situations are not common and would only occur where deemed to be in the child's best interests with all parties in agreement and the parent providing consent. The child's status in the removal centre would effectively be that of a guest.

Immigration: Latin America

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with her EU counterparts on removal of people without documents to Latin America; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 14 July 2008
	UK Border Agency officials meet with European Union (EU) colleagues on a regular basis within EU working group frameworks to discuss returns management issues. There has been no formal discussion in recent time on removal of people without documents to Latin America, and as far as we are aware none are planned.

Immigration: Standards

George Mudie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) targets have been set,  (b) guidance issued and  (c) objectives determined in relation to (i) the time to be taken for processing applications for leave to remain and (ii) information on the progress of such applications to be passed to the applicant, broken down by each stage of the consideration process; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Service standards in relation to processing of applications for further leave to remain and settlement in the United Kingdom are published on the UK Border Agency (UKBA) website at:
	http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
	UKBA staff work to these standards and managers report on these standards to Ministers on a regular basis. These standards are only applicable to applications made by those with valid leave at the time of the application.
	Applicants receive an acknowledgment letter on receipt of their application which sets out the service standards. Information on processing times is also available to applicants on the UKBA website.
	Information on the progress of cases is not provided routinely to applicants at each stage of the consideration process but applicants can contact the Agency for progress on their applications via the Immigration Enquiry Bureau (IEB) or by letter.

Metropolitan Police: Uniforms

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the percentage of Metropolitan Police officers who are  (a) in uniform and  (b) in plain clothes at any one time.

Tony McNulty: holding answer 15 July 2008
	The deployment of officers to uniform and non-uniformed functions is an operational matter for the Commissioner.

Offenders: Deportation

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there are any exceptions to the rule which provides that a person deported from the UK having been convicted of a criminal offence may not return within 10 years.

Liam Byrne: The only exceptions to the rule are where refusal to revoke the deportation order would breach our international obligations under the Human Rights Convention or the Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Office of the Surveillance Commissioners: Inspections

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the answer of 23 October 2007,  Official Report, column 202W, on the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners: Inspections, which local authorities were inspected.

Tony McNulty: The figures provided by the independent Office of Surveillance Commissioners on its inspections of local councils are published in its annual reports. It is not their practice to publish a more detailed breakdown or identify particular councils.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from her Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate she has made of the cost.

Liam Byrne: No Home Ministers will attend the Beijing Olympic Games. The number of Government officials attending has not yet been finalised.

Personal Injury

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the highest 10 payments made by her Department in settlement of personal injury claims brought against it were over the last 12 months for which figures are available; which of those cases were  (a) contested and  (b) uncontested by the Department; and what the nature of the incident was in each case.

Liam Byrne: During the period 1 July 2007-30 June 2008, the Home Office, including the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau, settled a total often personal injury claims, with the total compensation awarded amounting to 165,727.68.
	The claims are broken down in the following table.
	
		
			  Personal injury claims from 1 July 2007 to 30 July 2008 
			  Nature of incident/claim  Contested  Compensation () 
			 Work Related Stress Yes 115,000.00 
			 Injury resulting from a fall Yes 11,044.00 
			 Repetitive strain injury No 10,000.00 
			 Repetitive strain injury No 8,000.00 
			 Injury resulting from a slip Yes 7,705.00 
			 Repetitive strain injury No 7,000.00 
			 Tripped over door Yes 3,000.00 
			 Collapsed Aorta No 1,728.68 
			 Trapped hand in door Yes 1,250.00 
			 Manual handling injury Yes 1,000.00

Police Cautions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of  (a) violence against the person,  (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud and forgery,  (g) criminal damage and  (h) drugs offences police cautions were given in each of the last five years; and what proportion of such cases were first offences.

Maria Eagle: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of offenders issued with a caution for  (a) violence against the person,  (b) sexual offences,  (c) robbery,  (d) burglary,  (e) theft,  (f) fraud and forgery,  (g) criminal damage and  (h) drugs offences in England and Wales for the years 2002 to 2006 is shown in the following table.
	Data from the court proceedings database held by the Ministry of Justice cannot separately identify what proportion of cautions were first offences.
	Cautions data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  The number of defendants issued with a caution for offences relating to various types of offences in England and Wales, 2002 to 2006( 1,2,3) 
			  Offence type  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Violence against the person 23,607 28,760 36,610 51,020 57,273 
			 Sexual offences 1,203 1,359 1,553 1,761 1,922 
			 Burglary 5,771 5,568 5,604 6,451 7,687 
			 Robbery 408 422 451 622 712 
			 Theft and handling stolen goods 54,214 54,466 61,944 67,619 72,369 
			 Fraud and forgery 5,335 5,484 6,036 6,936 8,024 
			 Criminal damage 3,102 3,726 5,495 7,246 9,018 
			 Drug offences 44,922 45,707 32,621 34,390 37,426 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. These figures have been included in the totals.  Source: CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Police: Bureaucracy

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of time on average  (a) all officers and  (b) patrol officers spent on (i) incident and (ii) non-incident related paperwork in each year since 2003-04; and how long each spent on average on patrol in each year.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 91W.

Police: Council Tax

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was raised from the police precept in  (a) England,  (b) Wales and  (c) each police authority in England and Wales in 1997-98; and how much is expected to be raised in 2008-09.

Tony McNulty: Information is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Council tax requirement 
			   million 
			  Police authority  1997-98  2008-09 
			 Avon and Somerset 25.56 85.26 
			 Bedfordshire 9.50 27.49 
			 Cambridgeshire 11.71 41.99 
			 Cheshire 17.12 50.34 
			 Cleveland 8.60 29.27 
			 Cumbria 9.23 31.66 
			 Derbyshire 15.09 48.05 
			 Devon and Cornwall 26.30 85.66 
			 Dorset 16.60 47.94 
			 Durham 8.88 26.70 
			 Essex 29.28 77.63 
			 Gloucestershire 10.05 41.14 
			 Greater Manchester 40.17 98.76 
			 Hampshire 31.76 91.65 
			 Hertfordshire 17.59 60.23 
			 Humberside 13.44 44.33 
			 Kent 28.70 79.68 
			 Lancashire 22.86 63.39 
			 Leicestershire 14.50 49.93 
			 Lincolnshire(1) 13.40 54.09 
			 Merseyside 27.03 56.68 
			 Metropolitan 181.83 664.97 
			 Norfolk 13.03 52.05 
			 North Yorkshire 13.42 57.12 
			 Northamptonshire 21.25 40.86 
			 Northumbria 12.99 33.77 
			 Nottinghamshire 14.92 47.63 
			 South Yorkshire 18.87 47.04 
			 Staffordshire 17.71 58.81 
			 Suffolk 11.30 37.50 
			 Surrey 15.04 92.05 
			 Sussex 29.06 79.87 
			 Thames Valley 40.62 123.93 
			 Warwickshire 9.17 32.63 
			 West Mercia 19.66 71.71 
			 West Midlands 39.56 74.88 
			 West Yorkshire 31.84 82.30 
			 Wiltshire 11.78 35.59 
			 England total 899.38 2.824.59 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys 8.24 33.86 
			 Gwent 8.67 33.70 
			 North Wales 11.24 51.25 
			 South Wales 19.49 63.60 
			 Wales total 47.64 182.41 
			
			 England and Wales total 947.02 3,007.00 
			 (1) Lincolnshire police authority will be required to set a revised budget requirement and council tax following approval by the House of Commons on 9 July of an order to cap the authority in 2008-09.  Source: DCLGfrom English Police Authorities/WAGfrom Welsh Police Authorities.

Police: Firearms

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers have received firearm injuries while on duty  (a) in England and Wales and  (b) broken down by police force area in each year since 1997.

Tony McNulty: Data on crimes recorded by the police in which a police officer on duty was injured by a firearm (excluding air weapons) from 1997-98 up to and including 2006-07 are given in the following table.
	
		
			  Crimes recorded by the police in England and Wales in which a police officer was injured( 1 ) by a firearm (excluding air weapons), by police force area 1997-98 to 2006-07 
			   Police force area  Total injuries 
			 1997-98 Metropolitan 2 
			  Northamptonshire 1 
			  Nottinghamshire 1 
			  West Midlands 2 
			  England and Wales total 6 
			
			 1998-99(2) Devon and Cornwall 2 
			  Greater Manchester 3 
			  Leicestershire 1 
			  Metropolitan 5 
			  England and Wales total 11 
			 1999-2000 Avon and Somerset 1 
			  Cheshire 1 
			  City of London 1 
			  Metropolitan 2 
			  Staffordshire 1 
			  West Midlands 4 
			  England and Wales total 10 
			
			 2000-01(3) Greater Manchester 5 
			  Metropolitan 1 
			  South Yorkshire 2 
			  England and Wales total 8 
			
			 2001-02 Metropolitan 1 
			  Staffordshire 1 
			  Warwickshire 3 
			  West Midlands 5 
			  England and Wales total 10 
			
			 2002-03(4) Gloucestershire 1 
			  Metropolitan 6 
			  Northamptonshire 2 
			  West Midlands 3 
			  England and Wales total 12 
			
			 2003-04 Cheshire 1 
			  Devon and Cornwall 1 
			  Metropolitan 7 
			  Nottinghamshire 1 
			  West Midlands 2 
			  West Yorkshire 2 
			  England and Wales total 14 
			
			 2004-05(5) Avon and Somerset 2 
			  Devon and Cornwall 1 
			  Greater Manchester 7 
			  Hampshire 1 
			  Humberside 1 
			  Metropolitan 9 
			  West Midlands 2 
			  England and Wales total 23 
			
			 2005-06 Cheshire 2 
			  Devon and Cornwall 3 
			  Lancashire 1 
			  Merseyside 1 
			  Metropolitan 7 
			  Nottinghamshire 1 
			  West Midlands 4 
			  West Yorkshire 4 
			  England and Wales total 23 
			
			 2006-07 Cheshire 1 
			  Dyfed Powys 1 
			  Gloucestershire 3 
			  Greater Manchester 1 
			  Humberside 1 
			  Leicestershire 1 
			  Merseyside 1 
			  Metropolitan 4 
			  West Midlands 5 
			  West Yorkshire 2 
			  Wiltshire 1 
			  England and Wales total 21 
			 (1) Includes fatal, serious and slight injuries. (2) There was a change in counting rules for recorded crime on 1 April 1998. (3) Numbers of some recorded crimes may have been inflated by some police forces implementing the principles of the National Crime Recording Standard before 1 April 2002. (4) The national Crime Recording Standard was introduced on 1 April 2002. Figures for some crime categories may have been inflated by this. (5) More explicit guidelines for the classification of weapons introduced on 1 April 2004, may have increased the recording of firearm offences, particularly those committed by imitation weapons.

Police: Manpower

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers in England and Wales were in post on the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by rank; and how many in each rank were  (a) Black and  (b) Asian.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 94W.

Police: Resignations

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of police officers left the police service  (a) within two to five years,  (b) within five to 10 years and  (c) after more than 10 years of joining in each year since 1997, broken down by police force area.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 January 2008,  Official Report, columns 2254-2268W.

Police: Sight Impaired

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Metropolitan Police officers trained in firearms handling have been taken off front line duty due to vision problems or impairments in the last three years.

Tony McNulty: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Police: Sight Impaired

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police recruit applications have been turned down due to vision problems or impairments in the last three years.

Tony McNulty: In the last three years to 31 March 2007, a total of 26 individuals have been rejected after having their eyesight tested at the medical assessment stage.
	This represents a total of 0.1 per cent. of the total number of applicants during the same period.
	These data are based on provisional information which has not been verified with individual police forces.

Police: Stun Guns

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Taser stun guns have been  (a) drawn,  (b) arced as a demonstration warning,  (c) applied in a drive stun and  (d) fired by each police force since 2003.

Tony McNulty: The latest figures on the use of Taser by each police force in England and Wales, published by the Home Office on 12 May 2008, can be found on the Home Office website at:
	http://science.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/about-us/news/539349.

Police: Voluntary Work

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she has taken to support volunteers who work for the police, with particular reference to staffing police stations.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1070W.

Political Parties: Conferences

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the costs were of policing the annual party political conferences in each of the last three years; and from what budget these costs were met.

Tony McNulty: Costs of policing annual party conferences fall to the relevant police authority. The Home Office has provided additional grant to the authorities responsible for policing the annual conference of the two main parties. The amount of additional grant paid in the last three years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  National autumn conferences  Force  Amount of Government special grant ( million) 
			  Labour   
			 2006-07 Greater Manchester 3.984 
			 2007-08 Dorset 5.320 
			 2008-09 Greater Manchester 6.500 
			
			  Conservative   
			 2006-07 Dorset 2.150 
			 2007-08 Lancashire 1.797 
			 2008-09 West Midlands 4.500

Powers of Entry

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the review of state powers of entry into private property;
	(2)  what the timetable is for the review of powers of entry to publish its  (a) options paper and  (b) consultation paper;
	(3)  whether the review of powers of entry has completed its first phase on determining all existing powers of entry;
	(4)  how many separate proposals for new powers of entry have been referred to her Department in the last 36 months following her Department's guidance on powers of entry;
	(5)  who the members are of the review of state powers of entry into private property;
	(6)  what representations the review of state powers of entry into private property has received from  (a) members of the public and outside organisations and  (b) public bodies, Government departments or quangos.

Tony McNulty: The Powers of Entry Review is being carried out by the Home Office in conjunction with other relevant Government Departments and agencies who exercise statutory investigative or enforcement powers. Progress on the review is set out on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.police.homeoffice.gov.uk/operational-policing/powers-pace-codes/powers-of-entry-review/.
	The webpage contains tables listing the powers of entry and entry, search, seizure or inspection identified to date and by whom and when those powers can be exercised. The review is now entering stage 2 and working with investigative and enforcement agencies on (a) assessing the continuing need for the powers and (b) raising public awareness and understanding of their rights and expectations. On completion of this work, the Government will launch a public consultation exercise on the findings of the review and next steps. The public consultation exercise is expected to commence in the autumn 2008. We will consider any parliamentary process in the light of the outcome of the public consultation.
	A record is not currently held centrally on proposals submitted by other Departments for new or amending powers of entry.

Rape

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces are equipped with readily available test kits to secure samples in the event of a complaint of drug rape.

Tony McNulty: Since 2007, all police forces in England and Wales have had access to early evidence kits. ACPO guidance Investigating Serious Sexual Offences, published in 2005, states that they should be readily available. These kits are intended to ensure the effective recovery of non-intimate forensic samples, including urine samples where drug or alcohol analysis is required.

Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the effect on  (a) the Scottish fruit industry and  (b) seasonal agricultural workers of changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme;
	(2)  what representations her Department has received from the Scotland Office on changes to the seasonal agricultural workers scheme.

Liam Byrne: I have received representations from the Scottish branch of the National Farmers Union and there are ongoing discussions between the Home Office and stakeholders on this issue. I am aware that some employers are reporting difficulties attracting migrants from the 2004 EU accession countries and we will continue to monitor the situation. However, it remains the Government's policy that labour needs skills at lower skill levels can be met from an expanded EU labour force. It is consistent with the principle of Community preference that the SAWS remains open only to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania while restrictions on nationals of those countries' access to the labour market remain in force.

Surveillance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of complaints the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has upheld since it was created.

Tony McNulty: From 2 October 2000 to 31 December 2006the most recent date for which figures have been publishedthe Investigatory Powers Tribunal issued determinations in respect of 554 complaints. During that period it has only upheld a complaint once. This related to two complainants who lodged a joint complaint. The details were reported in the Interception of Communications Commissioner's report of 2005, a copy of which has been placed in the House Library.

Surveillance: Local Authorities

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the use of surveillance and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

Tony McNulty: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 22 May 2008,  Official Report, column 477W.

Terrorism

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of the heat map produced by her Department's Office for Security and counter-terrorism showing the 30 areas deemed most prone to Islamist extremism.

Tony McNulty: The Government are working with local partners to ensure that information relevant to planning future work on preventing violent extremism is shared. For national security reasons it is not possible to place all of this information in the public domain.

Westminster City Council

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what projects undertaken by Westminster city council have received grant-aid funding from her Department since 1999.

Liam Byrne: The Department's grant-related payments to Westminster city council are set out in the following table.
	
		
			   
			  Project  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Childs Protection Training 600
			 Adults and Families 2,264,315 1,171,225 76,544  
			 Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children 1,563,840 1,748,819 1,403,076 1,868,625 
			 Antisocial Behaviour 115,000 88,116 144,060  
			 Sports Unit Positive Futures 29,005 84,701   
			 Young People Substance Misuse 445,211 588,654 564,670 500,734 
			 Enabling Grant 65,000 135,000  140,000 
			 Drug Interventions Programme  1,201,447 2,302,318 2,016,349 
			 Graffiti Pilot  2,996   
			 Single Non Emergency Number  69,968   
			 Indefinite Leave To Remain  359,072 90,459  
			 Respect Grant   221,079 294,622 
			 Safer StreetsHomeless106,000 
			 Criminal Justice IT  367,027   
		
	
	Information relating to payments made between the years 1999-2000 and 200304 could not be obtained without incurring disproportionate cost.

Written Questions: Administrative Delays

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to reply to question 206678 tabled by the hon. Member for Torbay on 15 May 2008, on Mr. Christian Ofori-Addo.

Liam Byrne: I replied to the hon. Member on 7 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1247W.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many detainees at the Yarl's Wood Detention and Removal Centre have been in detention for  (a) between three and six months,  (b) between six and nine months,  (c) between nine and 12 months,  (d) between 12 and 18 months and  (e) more than 18 months.

Liam Byrne: Information on persons detained at Yarl's Wood Immigration Service Removal Centre for all periods of time requested is not available; this information could be obtained only through the examination of individual records at disproportionate cost.
	However, management information currently available shows that of the persons held in detention for at least nine months and detained at Yarl's Wood as at 10 July 2008, one has been in detention for between nine and 12 months, four have been in detention for between 12 and 18 months and four have been in detention for more than 18 months.

Yarl's Wood Detention Centre

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which countries those people detained at Yarl's Wood Detention and Removal Centre who have been detained there for more than nine months are due to be returned; and how many do not have current removal directions.

Liam Byrne: Those people detained at Yarl's Wood Detention and Removal Centre for more than nine months as 10 July 2008 are recorded as nationals of Liberia, Nigeria, Jordon, Kenya, Vietnam, India and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In seven of these cases removal directions are not currently set.

Young Offenders: Reoffenders

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many re-convictions of young offenders there were in each police force area in each year since 1997; and what percentage of convictions of young offenders this represented in each year.

David Hanson: I have been asked to reply.
	Information on re-offending by juveniles by police force area is not available. Figures for re-offending by juveniles were published in May of this year in Re-offending of Juveniles: new measures of re-offending 2000 to 2005 England and Wales, but the data sets used do not enable analysis by police force area. The full report can be found online at
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/re-offending-juveniles-2000-05.pdf